Glassland

Initially, Gerard Barrett's incredibly assured second feature appears to be a modest "issue" drama set in modern-day Dublin, but actually it's a richly nuanced character piece that should appeal to fans of low-key, down-to-earth thrillers. Jack Reynor stars as John, a young taxi driver who acts as carer for his alcoholic mother Jean (Toni Collette). His best friend Shane (Will Poulter) is a young father with dreams of leaving for foreign climes, but John's own plans for escape are dashed when Jean's addiction threatens to end her life - and rehab is expensive. It's a measure of Glassland's slow-burn intensity that nothing boils over into melodrama, from Collette's raw and at times almost feral performance to John's involvement with a local crime racket. Some may find the ending more cryptic than understated, but for those who embrace it, Glassland is a haunting study of the damage done by personal demons and desperation. Nevertheless, it's the message of love and hope that lingers long after the closing credits.