Neat but frustrating

A somewhat frustrating experience. It's a film that has subject content that I love. Troubled teenagers trying to find a way and making the best out of their lives. The premise is a good one - 15 year old Sarah basically acts as a mother to her 2 siblings and a carer to her mother who seems to have addiction and mental health issues.

Sarah helps pay the overdue rent with a part time job and other activities but is struggling to keep it up and her school life is deteriorating as a result. Sarah is played really well by Liv Hill. The main problem I had with the movie was the supporting cast - who just seemed to be in over their heads given how important their roles were.

The script is decent, the film is a lot grittier than I had thought it might be, which is a good thing and it's shot nicely - but there is no real depth outside of Sarah's brief story. The emotive parts are done very well however, and I liked the rather ambiguous ending - the viewer really does root for Sarah's character all the way through.

A film with a lot of heart but just not quite the talent to pull it off, so feels a bit like a missed opportunity. I hope Gardener makes more films though as he does have a nice touch, and this was his first feature.