In writer/director Peter Lee Scott's 25-minute short film Colours, 17-year-old Adam (Harry Jarvis) is a promising youth footballer who faces an ultimatum from his team's captain, Mike (George Somner), when it's discovered that Adam's teammate and best friend Tom (Makir Ahmed) is gay. 

In the aggressive and often hostile world of youth grassroots football, such a scenario feels remarkably realistic. Of course, these days one could also say it feels realistic for the state of politics in both England and the U.S. This London-shot film is an involving drama, a nicely paced yet quickly manifested slice-of-life drama that works because Scott infuses the film with an authenticity and has cast the film incredibly well. 

While there's an air of predictability that unfolds, Colours comes to life in the hands of this ensemble cast. Harry Jarvis shines as Adam, a young man who shows the necessary glimpses of that hostile and aggressive world in which he finds himself, yet Jarvis also gives Adam an ability to shut off that hostility that George Somner's damn near frightening Mike doesn't possess. They feel alike yet different. To the credit of Makir Ahmed, Tom feels as if he belongs in this world as well even if he is perceived as "different" by the others once his truth comes out. These are difficult roles to portray, especially in the span of a 25-minute short, yet they are portrayed effectively and to maximum impact here. Kudos must also go to Connor Catchpole as Alex, whose presence here is sort of as a lesser talented footballer who often captures Mike's wrath and who endures his own share of abuse in an effort to fit in. 

Colours had its world premiere at Cinequest and has been finding success on the festival circuit with screenings at the likes of Phoenix Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival and a few others. The film would easily be at home at indie or LGBT festivals with its intelligent and insightful story. 

For more information on Colours, visit the film's website linked to in the credits and watch for it at a festival near you. 

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic