London to Brighton

London to Brighton begins as Kelly (Lorraine Stanley) and Joanne (Georgia Groome) are fleeing London by train. We quickly learn that Kelly, sporting a major bruise to her face, is a prostitute and 11-year old Joanne has had a serious run-in with an authority. This authority, it turns out, is Kelly's pimp, Derek (Johnny Harris), who has his own issues with a gangster-esque character, Stuart (Sam Spruell). The film follows the developing relationship between Joanne, as she explores life on the run, and Kelly, as her maternal instincts get a good working over while she works the streets. This is intense drama and for the most part, it works. Stanley and Groome give stunning performances - it feels as if they've been working together for years - and Paul Andrew Williams directs with originality and a true sense of suspense and real-life horror. Some of the male performances border on excessive but given the direction of the film, it becomes forgivable; their work in no way detracts from the powerhouse performances of the ladies who carry the film. The cinematography is also captivating. Christopher Ross uses the full frame with flair. An excellent but gruelling film.

8 on the DaveScale.

(dir. Paul Andrew Williams, UK, 86 mins)