On this page: ROMEO AND JULIET: BEYOND WORDS | THE MISOGYNISTS | THE RUNAWAYS

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The dancers are superb, using their whole bodies to express their characters' inner thoughts and feelings. Bracewell is playful and charismatic as Romeo, boyishly horsing around with pals Mercutio and Benvolio (Sambe and Hay), and jauntily teasing Juliet's preening cousin Tybalt (Ball) before things turn combative between them. Hayward gives Juliet some feisty energy of her own, refreshingly, and a lovely connection with her nurse (Pajdak). And the chemistry between Bracewell and Hayward has a terrific sizzle to it.

Nunn and Trevitt adeptly play on various aspects of sexuality here, including some homoerotic subtext (the muscly men wear painted-on tights) that emphasises the universality of the story and it's various themes about romantic attraction, loyal friendship and family bonds. Even without using any of Shakespeare's words, the story's power is undiminished. And by taking a ballet performance out of the theatre and into the streets, this bracingly original film has essentially created a whole new genre.

themes, violence

11.Nov.19

Performances are intense, with high-energy, jaggedly edgy discussions between Cameron and Baxter and whoever they happen to interact with along the way. The actors deliver the dialog forcefully, both as passionate believers and people arguing just for the sake of it. In a breathless tour-de-force, Baker gives Cameron nonstop bluster even as he offers the occasional glimpse under the surface. By contrast, Taylor's feelings are more apparent. And Milicevic and Dunn make a terrific duo, bouncing off each other with moments of insight.

The interaction spirals through paranoia, racism, fat-shaming, homophobia, sexism and bullying. "This is just locker-room talk," says Cameron, who believes you have to be heartless to succeed; compassion is for losers. Clearly this isn't working out for him, alone in his hotel room, paying women for sex. As the film continues, playing out essentially in real time, it becomes increasingly difficult to watch. This is a shocking depiction of all-to-real attitudes that are happy to tear apart the fabric of society. It's bracingly important, and wrenchingly sad.

themes, language, drugs

12.Feb.20

The three young actors are terrific on-screen, generating some superb sibling chemistry between them, both when they stick together and when they clash against each other. Windsor gets a chance to shine as older teen Angie interacts with the adults in the cast, including several moments in which bleakly shady motives reveal themselves. While Addy has a role that's basically smiley and warm, Fitzgerald and Boardman get a chance to find some sharper edges, making their characters feel perhaps more complex than they were on paper.

This is certainly never a sweet and cuddly kids' movie. The relentlessly downbeat tone, patiently unfolding narrative and startlingly grim setbacks make it sometimes difficult to connect with, as does the way Heap drip-feeds vague details about the family's past. But there's plenty of dramatic tension to hold the interest, adding some nuance to a rather thin premise. And Heap's lovely approach to the Yorkshire landscape adds an extra layer to the film that makes it feel timeless.

themes, language, violence

5.Jan.20