Rooted Out – Chapter 1

As news footage of the 2024 Southport riots plays on the TV, racial tensions grow between two neighbouring families in the first part of writer-director F Hutton-Mills’s feature debut, Rooted Out. On one side, Peter and Claire (Jonas Armstrong and Olivia Grant) are anxiously waiting for an important letter. On the other, Kojo and Ama (CJ Beckford and Nadine Mills) are enjoying a family breakfast with their two sons. When the letter arrives, and Kojo and Ama discover that their neighbours are threatening legal action over a tree, an already tenuous relationship threatens to become volatile.

Carried by a solid ensemble cast, Hutton-Mills uses this conflict as a microcosm for the wider political divide impacting the country to explore issues surrounding prejudice, classism, and hypocrisy. Given that Chapter 1 serves as the first instalment of a two-part feature, the narrative never escalates beyond a tepid simmer. However, it establishes the foundations for what looks to be a captivating second half.

Each of the adults has a different opinion on what they see unfolding on their screens. Peter takes an impassioned and academic stance, aiming his frustration towards social inequality, whereas Claire has a firmer stance on immigration, echoing some of the protestors’ rhetoric. Meanwhile, Kojo and Ama are all too familiar with the prejudice they see playing out in front of them, though Ama is more pragmatic in her response. In addition to using these disagreements to turn up the temperature in each household, Hutton-Mills smartly uses these exchanges to explore various facets of the conversation to understand why people may hold certain views. Although Claire has the most extreme outlook, the filmmaker gives her an understandable reason, even if the character’s views are deeply problematic.

Hutton-Mills’ exploration goes much further than talking points. He uses conversations as an opportunity to unpick each character and expose their flawed humanity. As much as Peter takes the moral high ground, he’s someone who’s very much set in his ways. The filmmaker lets these moments play out at their own pace, allowing viewers to better understand each of the key players before the main conflict is introduced.

Rooted Out is an authentically human examination of a difficult and complex subject. Although the rivalry is barely getting started when Chapter 1 reaches its end, Hutton-Mills has succeeded in creating the start of something fabulous.