Scrapper

Georgie (Lola Campbell) is a 12-year-old North Londoner, alone in the world since the death of her mum (somehow she’s convinced social services she’s living with her uncle Winston… Churchill) and fine with it, thanks mate. She’s more than capable, and found a nice little earner liberating bikes from their chains with the help of her loyal chum Ali (Alin Uzun). The last thing she wants or needs is the dad she’s never known. But here he is anyway: Jason (Harris Dickinson, Triangle of Sadness) back from Ibiza to prove he’s all grown up.

Charlotte Regan’s first movie wowed Sundance with its infectious delight in making mischief… not only in celebrating Georgie’s unruly independence, but in Regan’s offbeat stylistic flourishes: super-saturated, colour-coded pre-teen Greek choruses, restless camerawork, interjections from house spiders, you name it. At heart, of course, this remains the tale of an abandoned child gradually placing trust in her designated adult, and the movie hits those emotional buttons hard and true.

Scrapper is just one of those sweet, funny films that takes pleasure in the wonder of youth, with really tight, honest writing that is unexpected and fun.

Josh Flanders, Chicago Reader

Full of rare heart, a spunky embrace of ambitious empathy.

Robert Daniels, rogerebert.com

Bold and youthful… packed full of ideas and fizzing energy.

Wendy Ide, Screen International