Borrowed Time review

A bittersweet comedy about rekindling youth and growing up

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Jules Bishop's feature debut is a rarity: a low-budget British indie take on urban youth that’s devoid of cliché or cynicism.

It’s a nuanced character study about the unlikely relationship between hapless young burglar Kevin (a remarkable Theo Barklem-Biggs) and his eccentric old curmudgeon of a victim, Philip (Phil Davis).

Bishop proves a deft judge of tone, striking a balance of wit and whimsy that only tips slightly into parody with Kevin’s cartoonish tormenter, drug-dealing Ninja Nigel (Warren Brown).

Still, first time out, the writer/director looks a very exciting prospect.

Stephen is a freelance culture journalist specialising in TV and film. He writes regularly for the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, the i, Radio Times, and WIRED.