SCRAPPER

UK, 2023, 84 minutes, Colour.

Lola Campbell, Harris Dickinson, Alin Uzun.

Directed by Charlotte Regan.

Here is a pleasing slice of life in East London. It is a small film, running under 90 minutes, but very engaging in its way, especially with its central character, 12-year-old Georgie,

And what might we understand with the word “scrapper”? Here is the Wikipedia definition, unfortunately couched in exclusive language, especially since our scrapper is a young girl: A person who disposes of scraps. A person who fights doggedly, who exhibits indomitable will. Quotations: ‘He's a real scrapper, even against impossible odds, he always keeps fighting’.

That’s a fairly good description of Georgie except that she doesn’t dispose of scraps, she actually keeps a tidy and organised house – but, she and her best friend, her neighbour, Ali, steal bikes in the local neighbourhood, a young woman fencing them for 5 pounds each, scraps and resale.

Georgie is played by Lola Campbell, quite an extraordinary and powerful screen presence, exhibiting self-confidence, determination, face set against the world. She is alone, her mother recently dying and this affecting her deeply. But, life goes on, cleaning the house, outings with Ali, his sleepovers, and the bikes…

Then, one day, this man turns up, looking a bit raggedy, bleached blonde hair, quite tall – and announces to Georgie that he is Jason, her father. Needless to say, he doesn’t get a welcoming reception. But, in he moves, tensions in the house – though Ali seems to like him and is friendly. (And, actually and sadly, Georgie falls out with Ali.)

So, while this is a story of a lively young girl coping with life, it is also the story of a young father, absent from his daughter’s life, returning and the two, after animosity, getting to know each other and, possibly, a future. (And Jason is not exactly anti-bikes stealing and he and Georgie are pursued by the police.)

So, this film has a very local feel, the council housing, streets and shops, the railway station… And, it relies on its impact, and charm, with small and homely sequences. But there is a great pathos towards the end, her mother’s phone call to Jason when she knew she was dying and concerned about her daughter. Yes, Ali does come back.

A likeable film for audiences young and old.

1. The title, the focus on Georgie, 12 years old, her story?
2. The East London setting, homes and housing settlements, the streets, playing fields, bikes, railway stations…? Authentic feel? The musical score?
3. Lola Campbell as Georgie, a lively performance? Credible? Her background, her mother bringing her up, her mother’s death, visualising memories? Her absent father? Living alone, stealing the bikes, doing the deals, her companionship with Ali? Their time together, talking together bonding, play, stealing, doing deals with the woman and the bikes? At home, cooking, cleaning, and orderly house? The locked door, the room, the bikes, memories of her mother? Her prospects?
4. Ali, his family, neighbours, sharing friendship, staying over, meals, talking, stealing the bikes, Georgie and her tactics? Ali and his mother, friendly?
5. Jason, his arrival, appearance, Georgie suspicious, announcing he was her father, her reaction, sullen, Ali being more friendly?
6. Jason, coming into the house, Georgie and her reactions, hostile, upset at his intruding into her mother’s room, Georgie and the quarrel with Ali? Stealing the bikes, Jason giving her advice, the police pursuit, hiding? The beginnings of bonding?
7. At the station, playing the game of pretend, the passengers on the other platform? Gradually getting to know each other, acceptance? Yet Georgie going through Jason’s things, his phone? His reaction?
8. Going out together, the metal search, the bracelet with her name?
9. Jason, his decision to leave, leaving the phone with the note, her mother’s voice asking him to come? Her reaction?
10. Georgia going to find Jason, at the station, is playing with the men, the embrace, the return, Ali turning up? Their future?