To reveal too much about Lynn + Lucy would be to detract from the impact of this heartbreaking tale of friendship, parenthood and loss. Suffice to say, Fyzal Boulifa’s feature length directorial debut is an emotional gut-punch reminiscent of the work of recent British directors like Clio Barnard (The Selfish Giant, The Arbor) and Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, Red Road).

Boulifa’s film follows the deterioration of Lynn (Roxanne Scrimshaw) and Lucy’s (Nichola Burley) long-standing friendship. The titular pair’s friendship is the primary dramatic interest, with the film hinting at a romantic relationship which initially serves as a red herring to obscure the film’s eventual narrative reveal. Lynn, a self-proclaimed stay-at-home mum is seeking her first real job following an injury her husband suffers which puts him out of work. Her best friend, the blue-haired and comparatively more outgoing Lucy, has just become a mother herself, a role which Lynn helps her to navigate with gentle maternal guidance. Following a devastating event which radically alters both Lynn’s and the community’s perception of Lucy, however, the status quo is forever changed.

Filmed in the ‘academy ratio’, the boxed-in view of the characters’ lives is a far cry away from the widescreen epics of Hollywood or, indeed, high budget British franchises like James Bond or Harry Potter. Boulifa’s camera remains detached and mostly objective, focusing upon faces and gestures rather than lengthy dialogue or action. Indeed, we never actually witness the alleged event which prompts the film’s dramatic core, masterfully leaving us to interpret every comment, every response, individually. This is a story of everyday life and the consequences of lies, gossip and mistrust within a small British suburb.

Not for the faint of heart, Lynn + Lucy is a captivating drama which deals with ‘true life’ horror within a down to earth and relatable domestic setting.

Available on BFI Player.