I like the sound of Mahalia, who's only made well-regarded short films up till this point (South Westerly, Stray, Volume and Advent). Sarah Quintrell is the first time writer (otherwise appeared very fleetingly in TV, came in via a Channel 4 new writers thing). Plus Chloe Thomson as DP and Carmela Landoli editing you have a new and female team bringing us something unforgettable. Similar to Fish Tank, not as stylish, though there are certainly some interesting angles and moments. It's interesting how the earlier film is in 4x3 (for maximum focus) whilst this widescreen story sometimes cuts out the actors or places them on the edges of the shot.
Jessica Barden is a bit of an old pro already having appeared in The Lobster, Far From the Madding Crowd, Vera, Tamara Drewe and Hannah. God, she's good. So too is co-star Yasmin Monet Prince (her debut). Then more seasoned co-stars come in the shape of Jaime Winstone, Joe Dempsie (This Is England, One Of Us, Skins) and Charlie Creed-Miles.
The ending - the tree that no one hears falling - is one of those powerful ones that stays in your memory for ages, creating not just a film but a searing social statement.
Belo won the BAFTA Breakthrough Award, Quintrell and Thomson were nominated.
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