Harris Dickinson’s “Urchin” has been bought by 1-2 Special for U.S. release. It received glowing reviews at Cannes, yet Neon, A24, and MUBI, perfect fits for this film, were not interested? A real shame.
The film, a raw and unflinching look at homelessness and mental illness on London’s streets, premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard sidebar back in May. By the end of the festival, it walked away with the sidebar’s Best Performance award for star Frank Dillane, along with the coveted FIPRESCI Prize for the film.
Dickinson, who made a lasting impression starring opposite Nicole Kidman in “Babygirl,” is making his directorial debut here, and “Urchin,” is something else entirely — raw, small in scale, and unflinching. The raw, documentary-like realism to the storytelling rejects typical narrative structure, opting instead for a portrayal of the chaos inherent in the main character’s head.
What makes “Urchin” an impressive debut is its refusal to simplify: the story unspools in moments, with spare dialogue, and inspired visual choices. Dillane gives a devastating performance, anchoring the film’s gritty poetry into something real. Keep an eye out on this one when it’s released this fall.