Despite not being one for the coming of age genre I found myself completely entranced by this film. I was taken in by the earthiness of it all and became quite attached to the characters and their personal stories even if there were not all 'traditionally' likable. Being set predominantly in an ordinary town with ordinary people highlighted the individual dreams and foibles of the youngsters in totally natural way. Using a coastal location gave the opportunity for some incredibly haunting cinematography which also provided for a sense of foreboding which is pertinent to a large semi-underclass in our time. As with any good multi-dimensional story there is tragedy, though not necessarily where expected, heart- warming elements and quirky characters – the great Rita Tushingham – which all contribute to a very emotionally demanding but realistically uplifting experience.

Loved this movie. The relationship between Sam and Kieran was very well written and performed . Took me back to my youth. Jealousy, love, competition, lust, trust, anger, rage. All those emotions but being unsure how to express them. It had great performances from the leads but also the supporting cast. It's a shame that this film is not more widely available. Obviously shot on a budget but that did not detract from the powerful direction and cinematography. The seaside setting added to the feeling of expectation and hope. I will be recommending to my step kids and nieces who are closer to the target audience and will I'm sure enjoy as much as I did.