Yuma review

Polish gangster flick isn't very Yuma-rous

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

It may present itself as the Polish Goodfellas , but Yuma lacks the conviction of its inspiration.

Set after the fall of communism across central and Eastern Europe, it sees poverty-stricken, baby-faced Zyga (Jakub Gierszal) – like Justin Bieber playing the Milky Bar Kid – rise as a gangster at the birth of Polish capitalism.

There are flashes of greatness, with co-writer/director Piotr Mularuk touching upon, but never fully exploring, the grim desperation of the post-communist vacuum.

Overall, however, it's let down by muddled plotting, a weak script and a lead that lacks the depth needed to sell this story of moral collapse. Shame.

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.