This is actor Samantha Morton’s directorial debut and it deals with children in the foster system in the UK, which is something Morton herself knew a lot about. The film centres around Lucy, an eleven year old angel, who is sent into foster care after being physically abused by her father. While waiting for a family to look after her, she must live at a centre with other foster kids. Here she is witness to a number of negative things such as stealing, very abusive and disrespectful language, and even the sexual abuse of a minor. All Lucy wants is to live with her mother, but she just doesn’t want her.
The film actually ends with Lucy going to visit her mother only to be rejected again. The final shot is a two minute shot of Lucy on the bus leaving her mother’s. It is just a close-up of her face and then the title comes up full screen “THE UNLOVED” and it is just heartbreaking. You think how could anyone not love Lucy. She is adorable and the performance by Molly Windsor is outstanding. Ironically for a film with such a dark and bleak subject matter, it is beautiful. The cinematography is gorgeous and it is very obvious that Samantha Morton has a fantastic directorial eye. Recommended.
3.5 Stars - Viewed at the Melbourne International Film Festival
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