Scrapper, 2023.
Directed by Charlotte Regan.
Starring Lola Campbell, Harris Dickinson, Alin Uzun, and Laura Aikman.
SYNOPSIS:
Georgie, a dreamy 12-year-old girl, lives happily alone in her London flat, filling it with magic. Suddenly, her estranged father turns up and forces her to confront reality.
Harris Dickinson over the course of the past two years has cemented himself as a varied actor in both lead and supporting roles, starring in the awards contender Triangle of Sadness and The King’s Man with smaller parts in Where The Crawdads Sing and See How They Run. Dickinson now stars in Scrapper, the debut feature film from Charlotte Regan, that premiered at Sundance in January.
Lola Campbell’s Georgie is living on her own following the death of her mother and mostly spending her time with her best friend Ali, trying to process her grief and stay away from child services, pretending to be living with her uncle ‘Winston Churchill’. It’s at this point that Dickinson’s Jason enters her life, a father she’s never met, now trying to make more of an effort.
There will inevitably be comparisons to Aftersun with a young father and daughter relationship at the forefront but tonally the films couldn’t be further apart. Scrapper is set in London, an unglamorous portrayal of the city, that feels realistic and far from a Hollywood postcard depiction seen in so many films.
Largely a two-handerm there is a lot riding on the lead performances, and Campbell is a revelation showing immense depth and the impact grief has had on Georgie. Dickinson meanwhile brings a cheekiness and different vibe once Jason shows up. The pair share phenomenal chemistry, and it is impressive how well Regan is able to develop their relationship across an 80-minute runtime. This may well be one of Dickinson’s most impressive lead roles and further proof of why he is so sought after, Campbell is more than a match for her co-star and in many ways, it is really her film.
For its subject matter, this is a sensitive, fun and lively film with some innovative direction, especially involving fantastical elements that show potential for Regan as a director. It will perhaps make a good double bill with Rye Lane, another slightly unconventional take to London on film. While the story itself might be relatively light, the world Regan builds, and the performances keep audiences captivated.
Scrapper is a slight but lively take on grief and father-daughter relationships. It is a smart debut that shows real signs of potential, building an exciting and fun world. Lola Campbell and Harris Dickinson keep the film afloat, where it could easily fall apart. Perhaps most impressive is how it uses its short runtime to fully tell its story and develop the relationships between its leads. It will be intriguing to see the direction Regan’s career takes and whether she sticks to smaller-scale films of this nature.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Chris Connor
