BROKEN

UK, 2012, 91 minutes, Colour
Tom Roth, Cillian Murphy, Eloise Laurence, Rory Kinnear, Zana Marjanovic.
Directed by Rufus Norris.
A very sad film, with some touches of hope at the end. All of the characters are broken in one way or other.

This is a British film, a north London film, generally confined to a street with a closed circle at the end of it, confined to three adjacent houses. In 90 minutes, we clome to understand several of the characters even when it is hard to offer them sympathy. However, we are invited to look at them through the eyes of an eleven year old girl, her nickname Skunk, as well as look at Skunk herself. She is played with skill and verve by Eloise Laurence, her first film.
Initially we see Skunk chatting with Rick (Robert Emms), a young man just over the way. He is cleaning the car and, listening to him, we realise he is a slow-learner. Suddenly the man next door comes out and bases Rick. We learn he is Mr Oswald (Rory Kinnear), widowed with three daughters. Skunk is taken aback, even more so when the police arrive and it is Rick they are taking in.
The situation is soon explained and we begin to learn about each household.
Rick had an accident, almost drowning, when he was five. He is cared for by his loving parents.
One of Oswald’s daughters (who become increasingly obnoxious as the film progresses) is found with a condom and says she had sex with Rick to save herself from her father’s anger. Once again, we see him go and and bash Rick, calling him a pervert, which is why he was arrested.
Meanwhile, Skunk lives at home with her father, solicitor Archie (Tim Roth) who tries to intervene and make peace but is himself threatened by Oswald. Archie’s wife has left him and he has a woman in, Kasia (Zana Marjanovic) to look after Skunk and her brother, Jed (Bill Milner). Kasia has a long time boyfriend, Mike (Cillian Murphy) who is at home there.
Ordinary enough, but enough for many problems. Skunk is preparing for high school (and Jed is trying to frighten her about how hard it is). She does fall foul of the smallest of the Oswalds who runs a protection racket in the school, with a crass mouth but a determination that is a combination of a young Margaret Thatcher and the criminal Krays. She and her sister also beat up Skunk and Mike intervenes.
Rick stays in his room, his mother trying to persuade him to come out by reminiscing about how his father saved him and how they love him. He goes to an institution, later comes home for a weekend which is tragic.
When one of the Oswald girls has a miscarriage at a party at home, Oswald assumes the worst, bashes Mike. Archie is solicitor for the detective’s questioning.

And that is not all, quite a few more plot complications, but it gives an indication of what can happen in any suburban street. We all know people who may live in one or other of these houses. But, this is a brief, effective slice of life which raises the question of who is to blame for what happens, who is responsible – or whether small things, quick lies, temper, betrayals, misunderstandings can lead to more tragic consequences.

1. British human stories? Contemporary bleak houses? Issues?
2. North London, the street, the circle at the end, three houses, adjacent, across the way?
3. Real, suburbia, homes and interiors, school, police precincts, the scrap yard, the caravan? Ordinary?
4. Skunk’s perspective? 11, her experiences, her love for her father, her relationship with Jed, his secrets? Kasia and her role in the house, liking her? Michael and his relationship with kasha? Her liking Michael? Her friendship with Rick? Seeing him wash the car, the conversation? The Buckley family? Her seeing Mr. Oswald bash Rick? At school? Michael and his class, wanting to be called mister? Jed and his talks about high school, trying to frighten her, in the corridor, bumping the students? In the toilet area, the little girl and her standover tactics, demanding the money? The confrontation in the lane, her being bashed? Mike and his intervention? The friendship with Dillon, talking with him, friendship, agreeing to be his girlfriend, in the caravan, agreeing to the kiss? His giving her the memento? Her being upset that he was leaving? The talks with her father, his care for her? Her diabetes, testing her blood sugar level every day? Rick, the attack, the hospital? Her dream, the church, everybody from her life present? Her father, at the back door, his outline, her choice? In coma, coming alive? The dream and the review of her life? Hopeful ending?
5. Archie, his wife leaving him, working as a solicitor, his relationship with his children, loving bonds? Kasia and her place in the house? Friendship with Michael? His work, bringing it home? Care for his children? The visit to Oswald after the attack, his being told off? Friendship with the Buckleys, Mr. Buckley coming to talk with him? Michael and the attack, his coming to help him with the questioning, strong statements about the Oswald girl, Michael insulting him at the pub? Michael’s later apology? His anger and Archie’s relationship with Kasia?
6. Oswald, a widower, missing his wife, no discipline with his girls, supporting them whatever they did? The attack and the daughter with the condom? Her lie? His believing her, going to bash Rick? Rick not pressing charges? His verbal attack on Archie? Later upset, the pregnant daughter? His violence against Mike? His being arrested? The miscarriage, going to the hospital? Audiences understanding him? Any sympathy or not?
7. The girls, having no mother, having an angry father? The slatternly behavior? The daughter with the condom? The little girl, her being a bully, her loud language, crass, in the toilet, reaction to Skunk? With her sister, bashing Skunk? Stopped by Mike? The party, the three girls present, the miscarriage? Hospital?
8. Rick, pleasant, slow-witted, cleaning the car and explaining it? Chatting with Skunk? Oswald bashing him? Seeing this sequence twice? His being arrested, charged, as a pervert? The girl found to be not pregnant? Rick, at home, staying in his room, his mother telling the story of his being young, under the water, his father crossing the rocks to save him? His father’s concern and going to Archie? The institution, the doctor, the old man who also appeared in the church? Preparing for the weekend home? His mother and the cake, lopsided? Oswald and his brutal words? Rick upset, his mother pleading with him on the stairs, her death, his father buying the milk, returning, Rick hitting him with the plate? Skunk going to talk with him, her diabetic turn, and the coma? A tragic story?
9. Mike, Kasia, the relationship, four years, Mike not wanting to marry, the breakup and the argument? His teaching? The intervening to help Skunk? Oswald and his violence? Accusations? Archie as his lawyer, the detective and the discussions, Archie’s strong stance? In the pub, Mike and his resentment about kosher? His leaving? Later apology?
10. Life and the suburbs, how difficult? The issues? Whose responsibility? Whom to blame? Choices and freedom, and consequences?