It's Just You and Me. 3.5 / 5
Directed by Sarah Gavron.
A young teenage girl finds herself struggling to take care of herself and her younger brother after being abandoned by their single mother with no choice but to live out on the streets.
A tough and honest film, Rocks looks at abandonment and adapting to new environments whilst coming of age in modern Britain.
Devastating but so full of heart, we follow lead character Rocks as her mum walks out on her and her little brother and how she has to step up to provide safety for not only her family but herself.
Bukky Bakray gives a pitch-perfect performance as the title character. She deals with the intense narrative with so much professionalism and maturity.
Thankfully there is somehow humour at the centre of this dark piece with hilarious dialogue from Rocks and her school friends as she puts on a brave face to the collapsing situation around her.
There's a childlike innocence and outlook into how to deal with these changing times which warms and breaks your heart all at the same time, the building stress and worry getting more and more intense as you begin to panic about the wellbeing of the main characters.
A very real look at events that frustratingly happen far too often, Rocks has family and friendship at its centre and shows that though life may happen suddenly with its up and downs, there's always hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. Read our latest reviews at: letterboxd.com/TheJackAling