Dan Hartley, in his feature film directorial debut, presents the poignant story of a child learning to cope with the tragic and sudden death of a parent. Lad: A Yorkshire Story is a striking independent film which conveys a moving tale that aims to connect the audience with 13 year old Tom Proctor (Bretten Lord).
Lad almost immediately tugs on the audience’s heartstrings through the death of Tom’s father within the opening minutes of the film. The scene of Tom being informed of the tragic news by his grief-stricken mother as she interrupts him playing a local football match is truly upsetting. Hartley puts the audience in a position where they cannot help but heavily empathise with the boy as the awful event is so unexpected.
Tom and his older brother Nick (Robert Hayes) both, naturally, lash out in reaction to their loss and Nick decides to join the military. This leads to one of the most emotional moments of the film as Tom pleads with his brother not to go. The audience is then presented with a child who appears to be losing those closest to him in rapid succession; the sympathy even lingers throughout his rebellious illegal actions.
This character progression has to be attributed to Lord who delivers a performance well beyond his years as he grasps the subtle nuances of the character perfectly.
After his brush with the law, Tom is forced to work with a local ranger as community service; much to his reluctance. The friendship he builds with the ranger Al (Alan Gibson) provides the centrepiece of the film. Gibson is fantastic in the role of an almost de facto father figure for Tom as he exudes warmth and kindness. The unlikely relationship is utterly charming and is sure to warm the hearts of the coldest of viewer’s. It is a pleasant experience to see Tom grow into a young man under the tutelage of Al. This character progression has to be attributed to Lord who delivers a performance well beyond his years as he grasps the subtle nuances of the character perfectly.
The other highly influential character upon Tom is his Mother (Nancy Clarkson), who is presented as the classic firm and fair mother that any northern lad will be well accustomed to. Their relationship provides several soft and tender moments throughout that are likely to tug at the heartstrings of a large section of the audience. These scenes create an incredible sense of honesty in depicting a genuine family which does not distance the viewer.
Lad is an interesting and, at times, thought provoking film which lives up to the hype that it has created at several prominent film festivals. The journey of Tom as he turns from a lost boy into a young man is a very rewarding experience for the audience. The themes of loss and friendship are sure to connect with a universal audience as an individual of almost any age can relate to the difficult task of coping with losing a close family member. Overall, Hartley creates a moving portrayal of the coming of age of a young adult which is further enhanced through the beautiful scenery of the director’s home county.
Lad: A Yorkshire Story is out on iTunes in the UK now.
8/10
Jack Smiddy
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