From the moment Parliament's "P-Funk Wants to Get Funked Up" erupts over the opening credits of Young Soul Rebels — only to be rudely interrupted by Poly Styrene wailing out, "Identity is the crisis, can't you see" — we know that we're in for a wild ride. The changes keep coming as an interracial sex act in the bushes turns into a murder, setting off a police investi­ gation and waves of controversy in London's black community. The year is 1977, and while some people are busy getting ready to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee, others have more important things on their minds. Punks and Teds, National Front and Natty Dreads are fighting in the streets, and the authorities seem more interested in harassing the victim's friends than in solving the crime.

Meanwhile, black DJs Caz and Chris dream of playing music so funky that "even the white boys will shake a leg." But when Caz meets a cute white punk named Billibud, it's shagging he wants, not shaking. As the romance and the manhunt both heat up, Chris finds he is a sus­pect in the murder, and Young Soul Rebels becomes a riveting look at the forces of race, class and sexthat reshaped the U.K. just before the Thatcher years. Frameline Award winner Isaac Julien mixes the politics and drama with 70s hits that will have you dancing in your seat as this breakthrough film — which won the 1991 Critics' Week prize at Cannes and is as exciting as ever today — heads toward its fiery climax.