Shortly after witnessing a brutal beating, Skunk’s home, neighbourhood and school all become treacherous environments, where the happy certainties of childhood give way to injustice and danger; her innocence is rapidly worn away and a harsh world fills her future.
When Skunk finally seeks solace in an unspoken friendship with sweet, damaged Rick, she’s left with a choice- to stay in a life she was not promised, or to leave this broken place behind.
Broken is a British coming-of-age drama film directed by Rufus Norris starring Eloise Laurence and Tim Roth. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2012. It is based on the 2008 novel of the same name written by Daniel Clay, inspired heavily by To Kill A Mockingbird.
About the Story (2013)
Eleven year old diabetic Skunk (Eloise Laurence) lives with her father Archie (Tim Roth), her elder brother Jed (Bill Milner), and au pair Kasia (Zana Marjanović) in a typical British suburb. One of her few friends is Rick (Robert Emms), a strange young man living with his parents in the neighbourhood.
Skunk is shocked when Rick gets beaten up by Mr. Oswald (Rory Kinnear), another neighbour: one of Mr. Oswald’s daughters has accused Rick of rape then later says that Mike is the father of her unborn child. From that time onwards Skunk’s life goes downhill. Kasia splits up with her boyfriend Mike (Cillian Murphy), who is also Skunk’s favourite teacher. Rick is put into a closed ward as he isolates himself more and more. Archie and Kasia are beginning a relationship. Mr. Oswald’s daughters start bullying Skunk when the new term starts. Skunk’s first boyfriend suddenly has to move to his aunt’s, something he didn’t dare tell her until the day before he leaves.
Skunk secretly visits Rick when he spends his first weekend at home again. When she enters the house, she finds that Rick has pushed his mother down the stairs, breaking her neck, and knocked out his father. Rick does not let Skunk leave and does not realise when Skunk, deprived of her medical supply, falls into a hypoglycemic shock. Mr. Oswald finds Skunk and saves her. In a dream sequence Skunk bids farewell to people from her childhood. She wakes up in a hospital bed, with her father at her bedside.
Broken (2013)
Directed by: Rufus Norris
Starring: Tim Roth, Cillian Murphy, Lino Facioli, Bill Milner, Zana Marjanovic, Lily James, Michael Fernandes-Pendse
Screenplay by: Mark O’Rowe
Production Design by: Kave Quinn
Cinematography by: Rob Hardy
Film Editing by: Victoria Boydell
Costume Design by: Jane Petrie
Set Decoration by: Stella Fox
Art Direction by: Dan Taylor
Music by: Electric Wave Bureau
MPAA Rating: None.
Studio: BBC Films
Release Date: July 19, 2013
Visits: 61
