Harris Dickinson makes his feature directorial debut with Urchin, a raw and unflinching portrait of life on society’s margins. The film centres on Mike (Frank Dillane), a man struggling to find footing after years of incarceration. Penniless and adrift in London, he drifts through shelters, precarious jobs, and fleeting connections while trying to reconcile the person he was with the man he hopes to become.
The title itself encapsulates the duality at play: the “urchin” as a vulnerable creature hardened by its hostile environment. Mike’s prickly exterior shields a deep yearning for belonging, though the world around him often refuses him even the smallest kindness. Dickinson refuses to sensationalise his subject; instead, the camera lingers on quiet moments — the simple act of eating, a failed job interview, a conversation with a stranger — moments that carry as much weight as the larger confrontations with police or creditors.Through its documentary-like lens, Urchin depicts not just personal hardship but the systemic failures that perpetuate it. Institutions intended to support re-entry into society seem distant, uncaring, or punitive. Still, the film resists despair. Glimmers of hope emerge through unlikely friendships and small acts of humanity, forcing viewers to see beyond Mike’s circumstances and into the universal desire for connection, dignity, and self-worth.
UK Release: 3 October 2025