When it comes to finding indie films, this year’s Sundance darling Scrapper is a needle in a haystack. Honoring both the magical bewilderment of childhood and the stark realization of adulthood, Scrapper is an emotionally deft drama that is brimming with creativity and an abundance of love.
Slotting nicely in between The Florida Project and Aftersun–two films that also perfectly execute the young parent and adolescent relationship dynamic–director Charlotte Regan crafts a charming, heartfelt film about the growing pains within a family when an estranged young father re-enters the life of his pre-teen daughter after a tragedy.
Scrapper stars Lola Campbell as Georgie, a precarious and independent twelve-year-old who lives alone in the house she once shared with her single mother who recently passed from cancer. When we meet our protagonist, it is some time after her mother’s death, and Georgie seems to have adjusted to parenting herself. She spends most of her time with her best friend Ali (Alin Uzun), stealing bikes for money to make ends meet, and lies to anyone who questions her living situation, claiming that her fictional uncle is her guardian.
But for as brave of a face Georgie masquerades with in public, the loneliness is never far. Prominently displayed on a wall within the house is a checklist and upon closer inspection, it’s clear that Georgie is working her way through the 5 stages of grief. Little does she know that her life is about to change when she gets an unexpected visitor one morning: her estranged dad.
Jason (Harris Dickinson) has been an absentee father for all of Georgie’s life, so their first encounter is no different than meeting a stranger. It takes time before Georgie begins to slowly warm up to Jason, whose well-intentioned but immature outlook on life comes with its own set of consequences. It’s clear that father and daughter both have a lot of growing up to do and in their own eccentric ways, Georgie and Jason start to navigate their new normal with each other by their side.
Charlotte Regan’s past career as a music video director is evident throughout Scrapper, from the quick cuts to the interesting composition and a beautifully stoic color grade. The film lands in a similar orbit to Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank in the sense that both share a powerful point of view of the British working class, but Scrapper offers the viewer a more optimistic, playful experience. Lola Campbell is a delight to watch light up the screen and is the perfect scene partner with Triangle of Sadness star Harris Dickinson. For his part as the reformed bad boy, Dickinson wears his heart on his sleeve as the character’s vulnerability unravels throughout the film.
Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Scrapper is a full-bodied coming-of-age film that ranks among the best of the year. Tenderly told with creative execution and striking performances, this independent film serves as a springboard for all involved, proving that these are all stars on the rise.
