Control Character Showcases

This activity will help you identify each character that appears in Control, and will help you gain a deeper understanding of who they are and the importance of their role within in the film. This will help students when answering questions when using the film session plans, and may provide guidance to session leaders.

The characters you will meet within this activity:

Laura

Lee

Kyle

Sarah

Nikki

Sami

Zoe

JB

Meet Laura

Laura is Kyle’s mum and Sarah’s step-mum. Laura has been trying to keep the family together since her husband (Sarah’s dad) died suddenly. She struggles to keep track of the two teenagers as she works double shifts and is going through grief herself. She feels like she’s lost control but is stubborn in asking for external support and help. She is generally shy by nature but also passionately caring and strong for her family.

Meet Lee

Lee is a local man; uneducated and often awkward. As a frequent drug-user he was befriended by Sami who needed local contacts to help him set up the drug dealing operation on behalf of his bosses. Although intimidated by Sami, Lee looks up to and uses his connection with him to support his drug taking and perceived status to help him groom young girls such as Sarah. Lee is volatile and emotionally controlling to his girlfriend, Nikki, who he uses to groom girls into meeting him. He sees himself as a leader but is looked down upon by Sami to make sure he is keeping in line.

Meet Kyle

Kyle is 14 and is generally likable with a good sense of humour, although has always struggled fitting in with popular kids at school. He and his best friend Zoe enjoy playing games online and staying out of trouble after being pushed around at school a few times. He likes to wind up his stepsister, Sarah but although he wouldn’t admit it, he cares about her and especially after her dad dies, he steps up to watch out for her.

Meet Sarah

Sarah is 15-year old girl who moved to the area when her Dad moved for work and eventually married her step-mum, Laura. She is naturally rebellious and smart but as a non-conformist found it hard to make friends. She now lives with Laura and her stepbrother Kyle when her dad was killed in a road accident weeks after the wedding. Already feeling lost, finding it hard to make friends, her grief and despair worsens her mental health, making her feel even more isolated.

Meet Nikki

Nikki is an 18-year old, not originally from Hull and something of an outsider, she was placed in care in the town when she was younger. Her relationship with Lee began when he groomed her when she was younger and continues her relationship with Lee as although he is cruel to her and sexually exploits other girls, she loves him and feels she needs him. Although she isn’t happy with her current situation and uncomfortable with the way things are going, Nikki befriends and grooms young girls for Lee and in turn, he feeds and houses her as well as feeding her drug and drink habit while showing her a small amount of affection to keep her on side.

Meet Sami

Sami is a 24-year-old man from out of town. He met Lee and used him to understand more about the local drug operation that he intends to takeover under the direction of larger city drugs suppliers. He has quickly become well known and respected locally due to having money, a nice car and a perceived kindness to younger people, accepting them into his group. He is charismatic, calculating and manipulative, but sometimes menacing when he is not getting his way. He recruits older lads like Lee and JB to do his dirty work, like muscle and intimidation or to recruit young girls. He mainly deals with the young lads to move drugs and money for him and the people he works with.

Meet Zoe

Zoe is Kyle’s 15-year-old best friend from a young age and has been close to the family, seeing herself as a second sister to Kyle. She is good at school, has her head screwed on and is brave, standing up to Kyle’s bullies in the past.

She isn’t quite sure what is going on with Sarah and Kyle, or what to do, but understands that this is too big of a problem for her to solve alone.

Meet JB

JB is a 17-year-old guy who Sami has recruited as an enforcer in his gang. He does whatever is required of him and has no problems carrying out violence.