A resourceful 12-year-old, who secretly lives alone in her flat in a working-class suburb of London, makes money stealing bikes with her best friend Ali and keeps the social workers off her back by pretending to live with an uncle. But when her estranged father turns up out of the blue, she's forced to confront reality.
Lola Campbell
Georgie
Harris Dickinson
Jason
Alin Uzun
Ali
Laura Aikman
Kaye
Ambreen Razia
Zeph
Asheq Akhtar
Youseff
Olivia Brady
Vicky
Sam Buchanan
Henry
Matt Brewer
Suited Bloke
Joshua Frater-Loughlin
Shopkeeper
Freya Bell
Layla
Aylin Tezel
Nina
Cary Crankson
Mr Buchanan
Jessica Fostekew
Sian
Carys Bowkett
Emily
Ayokunle Oyesanwo
Kunle
Ayobami Oyesanwo
Bami
Ayooluwa Oyesanwo
Luwa
Aysa Uzun
Ali's Little Sister #1
Ezel Uzun
Ali's Little Sister #2
Tejal Rathore
Girl in the Street
Daniel Burt
Young Jason
Harry Sydes
Kid 1
Mitchell Brown
Kid 2
Ramison Bernardo
Kid 3
Sue King-Spear
Lady in Lilac (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Charlotte Regan
August 24, 2023
7
"Georgie" (Lola Campbell) ingeniously manages to hoodwink social services following the death of her mother, and so lives on her own and makes a living running an unique cycle recycling programme with her friend "Ali" (Ali Uzun) that keeps them in ready cash. One afternoon, a guy leaps the back fence and introduces himself as her absentee father "Jason" (Harris Dickinson). She wants nothing to do with him, but he's no quitter and over the next hour or so we see the pair gradually realise what they have been missing in the years they spent apart. There isn't really much jeopardy here but what there is, is chemistry, The young Campbell is hugely charismatic and her mischievous but decent characterisation of a latter day urchin is really quite engaging. It's also one of Dickinson's more characterful efforts too. He doesn't rely on his looks and his musculature - he is also delivering us an enjoyable performance to watch as their relationship evolves - and not always smoothly. The writing offers us a dialogue that comes across as genuine, funny and for a low-ish budget effort this really is well worth a watch. I saw it at the cinema, but I'm not sure you need that - television will do fine.