Young Soul Rebels

Young Soul Rebels

Year: 1991

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Director: Isaac Julien

DramaMusicMystery

Two disc jockeys have a friend’s murder to solve in the fringe-group melting pot of 1977 London.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Young Soul Rebels (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Young Soul Rebels (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

June 1977

The story unfolds during the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in mid-1970s Britain. London is portrayed amid clashes of culture: punk on the streets and soul on pirate radio, with police tension, skinhead presence, and rising concerns about racism and homophobia.

Location

London, Dalston, East London, Tower block

Set in London, specifically a tower block in Dalston, East London, during June 1977, the city is alive with punk and soul scenes and the Queen's Silver Jubilee. The film uses the tower block and surrounding streets as a microcosm of 1970s Britain, where music and communities collide. The location frames the murder investigation and the romance across racial and class lines.

🗺️ London 🏙️ Urban landscape 🎶 Music culture ✊🏾 Racial tension

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:40

Main Characters – Young Soul Rebels (1991)

Meet the key characters of Young Soul Rebels (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Chris (Valentine Nonyela)

A focused DJ trying to balance a commercial radio career with staying true to his soul music roots. He wields a taped recording of TJ's murder and becomes entangled in police suspicion, testing his loyalty to friends and his own principles.

🎭 Protagonist 🎵 Music lover 🧩 Moral conflict

Tracy (Sophie Okonedo)

Chris's girlfriend who acts as a calming influence and catalyst for action. She persuades Chris to hand the murder tape to the police and becomes a bridge between Chris and Caz as tensions rise.

💃 Love interest 🛡️ Protective 🗳️ Civic minded

Billibud (Jason Durr)

A handsome, socially aware punk who supports Caz but can be naïve. He embodies the punk-white male archetype while challenging his own views and standing in solidarity with Caz against prejudice.

🎸 Punk 🫶 Alliance 🧩 Naivety

Caz (Mo Sesay)

A gay soulboy and DJ who runs the tower-block radio alongside Chris. He faces racism and homophobia while maintaining romantic loyalty to Billibud and a commitment to music as a form of resistance.

🎤 DJ 🏳️‍🌈 Pride 🧭 Courage

TJ (Shyro Chung)

The friend who is murdered early in the story; his death triggers a chain of events that exposes the fragility of friendships and the perils of the era’s social tensions.

🕯️ Friendship 🕵️‍♂️ Mystery ⚠️ Tragedy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:40

Major Themes – Young Soul Rebels (1991)

Explore the central themes of Young Soul Rebels (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌈 Love Across Barriers

The romance between Caz and Billibud crosses racial and sexual boundaries amid prejudice from both West Indian and white British communities. Their relationship challenges social norms and demonstrates solidarity beyond class. The film uses their love to critique prejudice while highlighting resilience and mutual support.

🕯️ Racial & Class Tensions

Set against a backdrop of skinheads, colonial hangovers, and National Front presence, the narrative exposes how race, sexuality, and class shape friendships and rivalries. The characters confront prejudice in everyday spaces, from clubs to the street fair. The tension drives the plot toward a dramatic reckoning at the disco and in the park.

🎶 Music as Resistance

The pirate radio scene and the choice between soul music and punk symbolize cultural resistance. Chris and Caz use radio to promote authentic music amid commercial pressures. The film presents music as a safe space and a political act that unites diverse youths despite social divides.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:40

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Young Soul Rebels Summary

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Young Soul Rebels Summary

Young Soul Rebels Timeline

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Young Soul Rebels Timeline

More About Young Soul Rebels

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