Films about drug addiction has been made many many times before. To be unique and stand out, it has to be special and this film is. Featuring excellent performances throughout, the ultimate success or failure of the film really rests on the shoulders of the young buy Paul (played by Harry Eden) whose eyes we see the film through. I have seen many great performances by young actors and actresses but this is one of the very best (a truly astounding performance). The film offers a different perspective on drug addictions' effects and is a very powerful viewing experience. With a well scripted story which felt very believable, this is a film I can strongly recommend. As a side note, it's great to see that Mr Eden is still acting.

One thing that stands out like a sore thumb on the previous comment is that David Wenham plays a drug dealer, he's easy on the eyes but a not so nice a fella. The son brings out all my maternal instincts, he does such a fantastic job of playing this tortured child that he makes me want to slap his mother silly. What a future this young man will have as an actor. Keira Knightly is really great but I want to slap her too. Alas this is reality in the real world, addictions can take over all senses, and destroy all in it's path. This really is a compelling movie and I tried to stop watching but just could not. It makes me wonder what the writer has gone thru to create such a sad story.

A young boy fights to keep his mother off of heroin in this gritty but hopeful film about addiction and family. The mother (Molly Parker) is nearly hopelessly in the grip of the drug, and her supplier Lenny (David Wenholm) does his absolute best to keep her in line. At risk of losing her children to their paternal grandparents for neglect, she tries to go cold turkey, but in a weak moment starts using again. Her son Paul (Harry Eden) tries to prevent Lenny from selling her more drugs, trying to step in between his addicted mother and her supplier, much like law enforcement seeks to do with a drug hungry society and a vicious underworld market run by ruthless cartels. The scale of the problem is reduced to a personal level but is quite exciting as well as emotional. Keira Knightley's role as Louise, a heroin addicted waitress who's also Paul's friend, leads to a night when he convinces her to let him try it out in order to know how it feels. It's quite a scene, as we watch in horror as our underage hero stares the enemy straight in the eye.

Just saw this on Sundance. loved it. beautiful acting, story, music, direction. Molly Parker is awesome once again. It was actually refreshing to see a movie where an addict actually beats her addiction. The scene where Mel (Molly Parker) sees her son (played wonderfully by Harry Eden) under the influence of heroine was especially touching.