Broken Review

1st Jul 2013

Three families collide violently in this fable of family bonds and paternal responsibilities. From the explosive start to the excruciating ending, if the suspense doesn’t kill you, the emotion will.

Eloise Laurence plays Skunk, a ten year old whose tender innocence draws everyone to her, for better or for worse. She witnesses a brutal attack on her neighbour Rick, a young man with mental health problems who still lives with his parents. When he’s sectioned, it sparks a tragic, downward spiral for all of the families in the small cul-de-sac where the film is claustrophobically played out.

Tim Roth plays her father, raising Skunk and her brother alone after his wife walks out on their family. Despite having only ever really seen him play the archetypal villain, Roth carries off fatherly patience and impatience gently and for me has never been more convincing. Their neighbour Bob, played by Rory Kinnear, is the father of three girls who have absolutely run wild. He is completely oblivious to his girls’ penchant for violence, lying and their absurd lack of responsibility. His absolute devotion to his girls’ is the root of so much of what happens in this film.

This is essentially a film about the nuances of parenting, how being a loving parent isn’t always enough and can cause just as many problems. It’s almost as if all three fathers are unaware of who their children really are. Saying that, Skunk’s relationship with her father is utterly charming to watch and the scenes where she wants a new phone handled perfectly.

The film itself belongs to Eloise Laurence, whose performance goes well beyond her years without being precocious or clawing. A childish innocent to the end, she carries the film and is absolutely compelling. A directorial debut for Rufus Norris, I would urge you to see this fantastic film and it’s no surprise that it opened for Cannes.