Bypass

It's a little hackey in some areas, but otherwise a solid showing and good performances.

Bypass follows Tim, a young man who has been left with the responsibility of looking after his younger teenage sister after his mother passes away and his older brother is arrested for burglary . With bills mounting, the only way to raise the money needed is to follow in his brother's criminal footsteps which sees him getting mixed up in some very dangerous situations. At the same time he is diagnosed with a serious illness, and illness he chooses to ignore as he races against time to raise the money needed to get out of trouble and keep his family safe. This was a pretty dark urban crime drama that was pretty relentless in it's portrayal of the hopeless situations some people find themselves in through tragic circumstance. However, due to the stand out lead performance from George MacKay, it is very watchable and never becomes a misery film just for the sake of misery.

This Film in it's narrative complexity weaves together a story of despondent youth in the backdrop of a fractured society, an England within an England. Engrossed as you are in the unique visual style of the film, you cant help but get drawn into the struggles of the Central charterer played by a transfixing George Mackay. This film asks a simple question is Morality a Luxury, and if Britain is Broken then who broke it. One of the grittiest urban dramas to hit UK screens this year.