Black Joy (1977 film)

Black Joy is a British film released in 1977, directed by Anthony Simmons. The story of an immigrant country boy in Brixton, London. It was entered into the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.

In London in the late 1970s, Guyanese immigrant Ben Jones arrives at Heathrow Airport with a suitcase and a wallet full of money. Immigration officials refuse to believe his nave explanation that the cash was given by his grandmother, and stripsearch him. Humiliated and confused, Ben travels to Brixton in search of an obscure address. A tenyearold boy, Devon, spots him and offers to help find the address if Ben pays him. When Ben foolishly reveals his fat wallet, Devon runs off with it, and Ben is forced to sleep at the local hostel. Dave King, a charismatic petty crook and lover of Devons mother Miriam, pretends to be a responsible adult and intercepts Bens wallet, but he keeps the money knowing that Devon has stolen it. That evening, Dave tries to seduce Miriam but she resists him, explaining that she has recently become pregnant. An argument ensues and Miriam forces Dave to leave.Ben almost loses his suitcase at the hostel, but defends himself against the thief. In an attempt to find his missing wallet he follows Devon around Brixton, but is sidetracked by Devons beautiful aunt Saffra. At Miriams caf, Ben confronts Devon about the stolen wallet but Dave intercedes and calms the situation, hiding Devons guilt and befriending Ben by loaning him some money. Unaware that Daves cash comes from his own stolen wallet, Ben accompanies Dave to a betting shop and defends him in a brawl. They place a bet on a horse that wins and Ben puts his winnings towards new accommodation. He finds a job as a dustman but loses it all again when he gives his earnings to a fraudulent landlord. Desperate for somewhere to stay, Ben appeals to Dave to share a flat. Once he realises that Ben now has a steady income Dave agrees to the flatshare and imposes a set of slanted rules that Ben is too nave to reject. ........

Source: Wikipedia