Mammal

Divorcée Margaret (Rachel Griffiths) leads a quiet, withdrawn life. She divides her time between her store and the swimming pool, where she tries to stay under water as long as she can. Shortly after learning that her son - with whom she never had real contact - has died, she takes in a homeless boy of about the same age. Between Margaret and this criminal but charming Joe (Barry Keoghan) an unorthodox relationship develops. Their mutual dependence grows, but the fragile bond comes under threat when Margaret’s ex-husband Matt shows up ever more frequently. Matt’s anger at the tragic death of their son puts an increasing strain on things, just like Joe’s involvement with a gang.
Rebecca Daly’s second feature - after The Other Side of Sleep, shown in Cannes - is a powerful yet restrained relationship drama, in which the outstanding actors are given all the room they need to evoke a world of raw emotions without speaking many lines.