Film

Rare Beasts

Director
Billie Piper
Certificate
15
Running Time
91 mins

Billie Piper writes, directs and stars in this self-styled ‘anti-romcom’ which was first screened at the London Film Festival back in 2019 and has finally found a distributor. She plays volatile single mother Mandy who struggles with her sense of self-worth and navigates strained relationships with her parents (David Thewlis, Kerry Fox) and needy new partner (Leo Bill) against the backdrop of modern feminism.

Reviews have been mixed, the consensus being the the film is acerbic, chaotic and promising. “The underlying messages are too muddled to be impactful, yet the pointed dialogue and powerful performances make this an auspicious first feature,” reckoned the Radio Times.

All the Watershed’s screenings will have a special pre-recorded introduction from Billie Piper, Caitlin Moran and Birds’ Eye View director Mia Bays. The evening screenings will all be followed by a pre-recorded Q&A with Billie Piper and Mia Bays. The Everyman’s preview on May 21 is preceded by a livestreamed introduction and Q&A with Billie Piper.

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By robin askew, Friday, May 14 2021

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