WHO’S IN IT?
Bukky Bakray (film debut), Kosar Ali (film debut), D’angelou Osei Kissiedu (film debut), Shaneigha-Monik Greyson (film debut), Ruby Stokes (Una), Tawheda Begum (film debut), Afi Okaidja (film debut), Anastasia Dymitrow (film debut), Sarah Niles (Happy-Go-Lucky), Layo-Christina Akinlude (The Last Tree), Sharon D. Clarke (Rocketman)
WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Sarah Gavron (Suffragette), director; Theresa Ikoko (film debut) and Claire Wilson (film debut), writers; Ameenah Ayub Allen (Erase and Forget) and Faye Ward (Stan & Ollie), producers; Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch (Only You), composer; Hélène Louvart (Happy as Lazzaro), cinematographer; Maya Maffioli (Beast), editor
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Shola (Bakray), known as “Rocks” to her friends, lives on an East London council estate with her mother and younger brother Emmanuel (Kissiedu). One day, when she returns home from school, she finds that her mother has suddenly disappeared, and is left to look after Emmanuel alone. Determined not to involve the authorities, which could result in the siblings being separated, Shola ends up relying on her friends to help her get by…
IN ONE SENTENCE, WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?
Sarah Gavron calls the shots on a lively, but also sentimental, coming-of-age drama that’s populated by largely unknown young actresses, who all give naturalistic performances that hint at a bright future for all of them.