Rag Tag

By: Noelle Reilly
In-House Review - Mar 11 2011

The world of Nigerian immigrants living in London comes to life in this independent black gay drama.

Childhood best friends, Raymond/Rag (Danny Parsons) and Tagbo/Tag (Damola Adelaja) are separated at the age of 12 - when Rag is taken to live with his grandmother in Birmingham. They reunite ten years later as young men: the handsome Rag is now a struggling high school drop-out who hopes to become a fireman, while the scholarly Tag works towards being accepted into a prestigious law firm.

After a mysterious business trip to Nigeria, complex emotional and physical feelings grow between them, but outside - including everything from everyday racism to a disapproving, Bible-quoting father - conspire to separate them.

Evoking the multicultural, working-class London of Stephen Frears' My Beautiful Launderette, Rag Tag is a touching and earnest story of love.

By: Urbangruv

I really enjoyed this film. It needs some editing and some writing details but it was well worth the time. The lead characters were attractive and committed to their roles. I did not get the mysterious "trip" segment but I loved the idea that you have to fight for love and how old Family issues impact the Family for years to come. Sexy and Affirming.

By: Amos Lassen

"Rag Tag"

Coming Together

Amos Lassen

"Rag Tag" is the story of Raymond and Tagbo who met when they were eight and who are from totally different worlds. Raymond or Rag is from a single parent West Indian home and Tagbo or Tag is the only child of middle class Nigerian folks. The two have been inseparable until the teen years when social services takes Rag away and he has to move. Ten years later, Rag comes back to find Tag and they see that they still want to be together. They are now both 23 and their friendship has changed as well as their personalities. Tag is finishing law school and having a rough time finding a position. Tag has a girlfriend who is white but she is not good enough for his parents. Rag realizes that he does not stand a chance with Tag but he still wants his man.
This is a story of friendship and love and is an excellent look at an aspect of society that we know little about. The film is quite bold and genuine but the movie suffers from poor direction and editing. The performances are good but the film has large gaps in it and the characters and some of the ideas are not fully developed. I felt that there is a wonderful film here but it needs a bit more work.
This is Adaora Nwabdu's first film and there is a lot of promise here. I love the multicultural aspects of the film and I certainly hope that we will be hearing more from this director.