Film No. 17 (2014) The Selfish Giant. March 12th.

Film No.17 (2014) March 12th. 7:30 UWA Somerville.

  The Selfish Giant

Director Clio Barnard must have been looking over the shoulder of Ken Loach when the opportunity prevailed. The Selfish Giant would attest to my theory; and thank god she does, because someone needs to fill Ken's shoes when he goes.

Socio realism is a term used to describe films like this gritty tragedy. Themes of family dysfunction, ADHD, exploitation spiraling regularly to anger prevail throughout but most affecting is the final five minutes where a character's need to show deep sorrow overwhelms all else.

Our journey is with Arbor and Swifty; first time actors who work the back streets of Bradford instead of attending school. Swifty is soft and gentle with a passion for animals but more particularly horses. Arbor is hard and uncompromising and has a hold over Swifty. They are exploited in their quest for scrap iron and copper cable.

The hopeless dreams build around this bleak landscape play with our comfortable, middle class minds. Finally we gasp, collectively during a scene which unfortunately verifies our predictions. And then there is that final five minutes. I left feeling optimistic, convinced that "this could be the making of Arbor". I fear I was in a minority.   9GUMS.