Lollipop

Mother of two Molly Brown (Posy Sterling) tries to 'navigate the system' after a spell in prison and battles to prise her children from the clutches of incalcitrant authorities. Writer/director Daisy-May Hudson's 2023 feature film (financed by the BBC and the BFI) is a social drama on a good subject matter, and whose portrait of stubborn, 'stupid' and seemingly uncaring officialdom is not bad (and if anything played down). Unfortunately this compares badly with previous dramas on similar subject matter like 'Cathy Come Home' and 'The Spongers', and is long and slow seeming with a lack of narrative drive. It has far too many padded out touchy feely emotional melodramatic scenes, which are at times cringe inducing, and occasionally laughable. The female lead - who reminds one of Katrin Cartridge - isn't bad, but the plot dynamics, characterisations, and psychology of the whole thing isn't always convincing.

I watched this film with my wife and daughter. Without spoiling anything, it was a very good watch, based on a true story, it was very well acted by people you could easily relate to. Heart wrenching throughout. Lots of sniffles in the audience and not all due to hay-fever.

I would give it a higher rating, but it is difficult when comparing it to some of the multi million pound block buster movies that have been produced.

If there was a separate category for movies made on a budget, then this is an 8 or 9 out of 10.

It would have been nice to know why Molly/lollipop was sent to prison in the 1st place!