The Selfish Giant

The Arbor auteur Clio Barnard transitions from experimental documentary to straight drama without losing any edge in this tale of two tykes (Connor Chapman, Shaun Thomas) and their misadventures in the scrap-production business.

If at times it feels like a patchwork of other Brit-grit directors (Loach, Lynne Ramsay, Andrea Arnold), there’s nothing hand-me-down about the humour and rage that sear across its hideous-gorgeous vision of broken Bradford.

And the kids are sensational – every time Chapman shoots down an authority figure (“Dick’ead!”) you’ll want to cheer.