The Unloved (TV 2009)

A film that gives a child's eye view of the U.K.'s government-run care system for orphans and children in danger.

Director:

Samantha Morton

Writers:

Tony Grisoni (screenplay), Samantha Morton (screenplay)

Stars:

Molly Windsor, Robert Carlyle, Susan Lynch

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Molly Windsor	...	Lucy
Robert Carlyle	...	Lucy's Father
Susan Lynch	...	Lucy's Mother
Craig Parkinson	...	Ben
Andrea Lowe	...	Vicky
Karl Collins	...	Karl
Johann Myers	...	Johann
Michael Socha	...	Michael
Darren O. Campbell	...	Darren (as Darren Campbell)
Kerry Stacey	...	Jackie
Ladene Hall	...	Ladene
Penny Morton	...	Penny
Marie Wheeler-King	...	Marie (as Marie Wheeler King)
Lauren Socha	...	Lauren
Christopher Russell	...	Connor

Storyline

Lucy is eleven years old. Having been neglected by her estranged mother and father, she is placed in a children's home. Through her eyes, we follow Lucy's struggle to cope with the system. Her saving is her self-belief and her certainty that she is being watched over and protected by the holy spirit. Hers is a heroic quest for love, beauty and transcendence.

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Plot Keywords:

abandonment | isolation | child abuse | drug use | reference to jesus | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Channel 4 [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Dihos agapi

Filming Locations:

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

EM Media, Film4, Revolution Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Samantha Morton wished The Unloved to be filmed for television rather than for Cinema. The reason being is that she thought, as in her own childhood experiences with going to the cinema, younger audiences' might not afford the price of a cinema ticket. Thus, younger audiences' would see this production "for free".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lucy: The Lord is my life and my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat of my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

User Reviews

This Movie Hits the Mark on Every Level

I was scrolling through Netflix when I came across the image for this film. On the cover is a little girl whose blue eyes are looking up thoughtfully with her blonde hair blowing about in the wind. Across the picture underneath her face is the title, "Unloved".

This grabbed my attention because she looked like I did at that age, and the title was fitting to my relatively tumultuous childhood. Then, when I scrolled over it, and saw that not only did she look like me, but she had the same name: Lucy! When I continued to read that the movie was about her having to go live in a group home, I was utterly shocked and convinced that someone had made a movie about me.

As I watched it, I was astounded by the authenticity in the portrayal of her experience, from the indifference of her many care takers, to the wildness of the other lost kids around her. There she was, caught up in the mix, just existing as her life took a course over which she had little control. I later learned that the director, Samantha Morton, lived in a group home, and only someone who has lived it could know what it is like. This is what it is like. Even the way the group home looks. The bright colors, scuffed up walls, little dorm style rooms, dingy living room with an old TV. I lived in a group home and this is exactly what it was like. Although I was older when I went into the group home, scenes from this movie resonated so deeply with me. When Lucy is in the back of her social worker's car being driven to the Group Home, She's looking out the window, just thinking, not knowing what to expect, but not afraid either. It was like I was watching that very same scene that happened in my own life. I am amazed by this film. I feel like it was made just for me. Thanks Samantha Morton.