Sorry We Missed You (2019)


Director: Ken Loach
Stars: Kris Hitchen, Debbie Honeywood, Rhys Stone
Runtime: 101 minutes

Synopsis: Hoping that self-employment through gig economy can solve their financial woes, a hard-up UK delivery driver and his wife struggling to raise a family end up trapped in the vicious circle of this modern-day form of labor exploitation.

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Editing: 8/10
Cinematography: 7/10

Verdict: Well God damn, I was not ready for that. I didn't know much about "Sorry We Missed You" going into it. I hadn't seen a trailer, read a synopsis, or even looked up who the director was. I wouldn't even have known of its existence if it wasn't for a random tweet calling it one of the best movies of 2019 that I stumbled upon a few days ago. And I hope that this post, much like this tweet did to me, pushes you to seek it out, because it's absolutely worthy of your time.
The family drama is quite paradoxical in its nature. By tackling themes of inhumanity, it immediately became one of the most human films I've seen in a while. The movie starts with the promise of a false sense of freedom. Ricky, brilliantly portrayed by Kris Hitchen, is being interviewed for a position as a self-employed delivery driver, which he hopes will resolve the financial issues that he, his wife, and their two kids are going through. Financial issues that only worsen due to his son's reckless behavior, which is getting him in constant trouble and sparks some tension within the household. But soon he realizes that he has to make a choice between keeping his family together, or keeping his job. His freedom is also his prison, and this is what the movie, enhanced by amazing three-dimensional and extremely relatable characters, serves as a study for.
There are a few clichés here and there, but none that took me out the narrative at all. "Sorry We Missed You" is a grounded look at a man forced to make impossible choices regarding his life, and witnessing how it's affecting him and his family is nothing short of absolutely heartbreaking.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10

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