The More You Ignore Me

The burden of mental illness has tragicomic consequences in a 1980s coming-of-age story set in the rural north of England and scored to a selection of classic numbers from the Smiths. Sheridan Smith's full-on performance runs the gamut from catatonic to psychotic, as the fragile mum at the heart of Jo Brand's screen adaptation of her own novel. Given Brand's own past experience as a psychiatric nurse, it's obvious she knows what's she's talking about, and there's compassion here not only for the stricken mother, but also the household's long-suffering daughter (Ella Hunt, terrific in the pivotal role) and saintly husband (an affecting Mark Addy). For all the tellingly raw humour and authentic emotion on display, however, shaping the family's travails into a feature-length drama proves a bit of a struggle. Having both mother and daughter starstruck by Morrissey - suggesting a deep yearning for understanding - brings a consistent through-line, but overall the film is somewhat ragged and awkward. Still, its sheer heart is undeniable, and Sheila Hancock's cameo as the obstreperous Nan Wildgoose is an absolute humdinger.