The Runaways

Saw this little Brit indie gem of a film in Halifax in West Yorkshire on a wet Sunday afternoon; didn't know much about it before hand but so glad went to see it. The director Richard Heap and two of the teen actors did a Q&A afterwards. The story opens in Whitby where the trio of kids are being raised ad hoc by their loving but heavy drinking Dad (played by Mark Addy) and after a family tragedy and the return of their violent uncle the kids flee with 2 of the donkeys from their seaside day job onto the North Yorkshire moors escaping and on the run. The story follows their adventures and charts their emotional as well as physical journey. It is touching, heartbreaking, witty, insightful and packs a big emotional wallop. Catch it if you can.

I saw this in London. It reminded me in parts of some of Ken Loach's films. A story about survival I think. Some great scenes and music. Molly Windsor is superb as the elder sibling, as are the other children. Refreshingly different film. Think it is probably a 12, but 12A is wise. Go see it whilst it is still in cinemas, the Yorkshire scenery is a beautiful backdrop.

I went to see this film feeling very lukewarm about what to expect but was gripped . Funny and shocking in places, it rambles along just as the runaways do. The film succeeds in making you suspend disbelief as you surrender to the magic of it, as if made in a time before mobile phones and social media. Molly Windsor is magnetic as the teenager holding everything together.

We came across this British movie on Amazon streaming, I find its IMDb rating just about right.

It is about a very marginal coastal fishing family with a dad that boozes it a bit too much. But he has a good heart and on certain days they operate a beach donkey ride with their three donkeys. Mom just left right after the youngest was born, now about 8. There is a brother and the real glue of the family is the oldest, the girl just turning 16.

When dad just happens to die overnight in his bed, right after his mess of a younger brother gets out of prison for murder, the kids decide to run for it, along with two of the donkeys. They take a road trip, really mostly an off-road trip, to find mom as the lesser of the evils.

Naturally things don't turn out the way the kids imagined it but they get onto a better trajectory, at least as good as can be expected.

Such a beautifully told story, it had me gripped throughout. The film deals with some harsh realities with grit, grace, and humour; the children's performances are captivating, the scenery is stunning, the score is delightful. Well done Team The Runaways.