Colourful, tender and sweet, grounded in magical rather than social realism: Scrapper reviewed

Scrapper is a film about a working-class kid who, after her mother dies, has to look after herself. I know what you’re expecting. It isn’t that. It’s not an earnestly grim wrist-slitter. It’s not an indictment of modern Britain with no shred of hope. It’s not Ken Loach. It’s not even desaturated and grimy. Instead, it’s colourful, tender and sweet with quirky moments that are grounded in magical rather than social realism. And it’s just 84 minutes long, which is a boon. (‘A boon,’ confirms bladders everywhere.)

This is the first feature from writer-director Charlotte Regan and the film sets out its stall at the off with an intertitle that reads: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ which is then crossed out, with a child’s handwriting saying: ‘I’ll raise myself, thanks.’ Georgie (newcomer Lola Campbell) will raise herself, thanks.