Lizzie Morrison (Emily Mortimer, LOVELY & AMAZING) is a single mom who with her deaf son Frankie (Jack McElhone, YOUNG ADAM) and her mother Nell (Mary Riggans) keep moving to stay away from her abusive husband Davey (Cal Macaninch). But Frankie doesn’t know that. The boy believes that his father works on a ship called the Accra and when the boat actually pulls into their town Lizzie decides to pay someone to pretend to be Frankie’s dad.
From the premise you might think this film is a sappy melodrama, but it isn’t. It’s written and directed with such subtly and real heart that it’s quite moving, engaging and never sugary sweet. Lizzie’s boss Marie (Sharon Small, THE INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES) finds the stranger (Gerald Butler, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA), who Lizzie pays to take Frankie around. He takes the boy for fish and chips, to play soccer and to skip rocks on the ocean. When they come home, he suggests that he come back to see Frankie the next day, taking Lizzie with them.
The film honestly portrays how a son feels when his dad is absent and how a loving mother will do about anything to protect him. The story plays out the situation naturally and never ramps up the tension or drama. These characters are so well developed and performed that we don’t need trumped up drama to care about them.
The whole cast is excellent. Mortimer’s performance is so natural you might not notice how good it is. Same can be said of McElhone. If Butler was miscast as the Phantom in the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, it can be said the opposite is true here. He is perfect as the stranger. Shona Auerbach shows uncommon patience for a first time feature director. She also served as the cinematographer, displaying a talent at bringing out natural performances and creating a simple visual style that does not distract from the fine acting. She is a filmmaker to seriously watch. This well-crafted family drama is a touching winner.