The Unloved

Congratulations to first time director Samantha Morton and Channel 4 for showcasing this magically poignant portrait of a maltreated child suffering the indignities of Britain's under-resourced care system.

Star: Molly Windsor delivers a masterful evocation. The Unloved avoids the inherent pitfalls of such difficult subject matter.

Morton herself went through care, but this is no angry rant against her experiences, but an enlightening reconstruction of events exorcised through a perceptive and beguiling work of artistry.

Strong support from co-stars Robert Carlyle and Susan Lynch as Molly's estranged and troubled parents seeking personal redemption for the hurt caused and subsequent loss of their angelic daughter.

I can only hope this is not the only helmed piece Samantha Morton brings to this world, as she is indeed a talented voice in a world of increasingly entertainment driven indifference to the bigger issues which surround and impact upon us all. This cinematic picture should have been given a much deserved big-screen distribution.

Assured best new British drama since Red Ridding.

Almost the British Florida Project. Good music choices. I'm a fan of the extended closeup without dialogue, and Molly Windsor was able to convey so much with her eyes in many of those. Recommend.

Saw this on Channel 4 tonight. 2 key words: Bleak & beautiful.

The acting during the bust-up at the Christmas Party was very realistic. The last continuous shot of the young girl on the bus home was very poignant. That image really stays with you.

If Samantha is reading this: Congratulations and well done on this great film. The subject matter was presented 'just right'. Coleen's music felt really natural (and, never forced). If you never direct again, that's fine, you can be very proud of this. I understand completely that this was something felt you had to do - rather than it being 'another gig' (like most directors).

Can you please provide details of all the music used in the film. The end credits text (font) was so small, I could barely read it! The subtitles didn't note every song, either. In particular, I'd like to know the name of track used at the Christams party - the one with the dance-off.

Thank you. All the best for the future :) HP

This was so well-directed and acted that it seemed at times like a documentary. Avoiding any clichés and easy answers it was moving and compelling. Clearly Samantha Morton is going to be as great a director as she is an actress. The expressionistic filming style and the long static shots reminded me a bit of Lynne Ramsay's work, which is a compliment in itself! I wish it had been shown in cinemas, as it would have won many awards in my opinion. All the actors were great, as i said above so naturalistic that it seemed at times like watching a documentary. Great performances in particular from the little girl Lucy, and the troubled Lauren that she met whilst in the care home. Highly recommended.

'The Unloved' is the result of actress Samantha Morton's first stab at directing, a story about growing up in a children's home, something she has experienced first hand. If she hadn't, you might wonder if it was exaggerated; if it isn't, it tells a grim and harrowing truth. Artistically, it's quite ambitious, eschewing emphasis on expository narrative in favour of giving a more impressionistic flavour of its central character's life - Morton appeared in Lynne Ramsey's film of 'Morvern Callar', and its tempting to assert one can detect the influence on her style. But there are also hints of Morton's inexperience behind the camera , in the way that her striking, set piece images are presented somewhat obviously, for example in the film's closing scene, where the entirety of a (sad) song is played over a wordless scene in advance of (rather than during) the credits: it's moving, but there's more to great film-making than the juxtapositioning of sad songs and pretty pictures. Still, on this evidence, Morton may get there: it will be interesting to see whether she is interested in directing on subjects less close to her own heart.