Broken is the feature film debut of British theatre director Rufus Norris. Newcomer Eloise Laurence plays intelligent but unassuming 11-year-old Skunk, whose idealism and affability combine to make her a modern-day Scout Finch.
Her Boo Radley takes the form of Rick (Robert Emms), a kind but intellectually challenged young man who becomes fragile and reclusive after an attack by bullying neighbour Bob Oswald (a brilliantly explosive Rory Kinnear). Despite a close relationship with her Atticus-like lawyer father Tim Roth, life is still complicated for Skunk, who’s struggling with a crush on her babysitter’s boyfriend Mike (Cillian Murphy, wonderfully warm) and the ever-intimidating presence of the wild Oswald girls.
There are even more subplots and characters to the expansive narrative, which was adapted by Mark O’Rowe (Intermission) from Daniel Clay’s novel.
There’s socio-economic commentary, a coming-of-age tale, several romances, and a melodramatic and troublesome central incident. The actors all impress and Laurence lights up the otherwise relentlessly bleak film, sharing marvellously endearing chemistry with Roth, Murphy and Emms.
However, an overly sentimental and clichéd ending jars with the otherwise realistic tone.