Broken (2012)

"Rufus Norris’ debut feature Broken sits uncomfortably between two schools of Brit filmmaking: the coming-of-age warm-heartedness of Shane Meadows, Billy Elliot et al, and the kitchen sink grittiness of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. He hasn’t quite nailed the tonal juggling act yet; as such the film feels prosaic, and punishingly one-note in its grimness, throwing all manner of timely button-pushers - false rape accusations, mental illness, single parenting, teenage sex - into the pot in the hope that something sticks. It basically amounts to a contrived, feel-bad suburban melodrama where a series of head-slapping misunderstandings lead to everyone being as miserable as possible."

"Melding heightened drama with quirky, state-of-the-nation social realism, the pic aims to undercut epic plot contrivance..."

"The result believably charts a girl’s coming of age but is eventually capsized by lurid melodrama even Brookside would have found excessive."

"Often strained and self-conscious, but newcomer Eloise Laurence is a real find."

"Newcomer Laurence gives the standout performance as the smart, precociously mature tween, but the ensemble cast all handle the tough, emotionally honest material with sensitivity."