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The Unloved

Play trailer Poster for The Unloved 2009 1h 46m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Lucy is 11-years-old and lives with her father. One day, not for the first time, he beats her. The next time she returns to school, Lucy asks to see her social worker Jackie. Lucy is known to social services and has been in foster care before, but none of her foster parents have any placements available. Jackie takes her to a children's home, Crop Row, where she is left with nothing except the school uniform she is wearing.

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The Unloved

Critics Reviews

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Philip De Semlyen Empire Magazine 02/19/2010
4/5
Poignant, perceptive and unrelenting, this may be bleak, like all great drama, it is ultimately uplifting as well. Go to Full Review Trevor Johnston Time Out 02/19/2010
4/5
Windsor's taciturn and stoic central performance is both haunting and affecting, framed by Morton's deliberate, even stately direction. Go to Full Review Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 02/19/2010
4/5
The camera is held at kiddie height, the close-ups are all Lucy's, and the adult world is viewed with deep suspicion as a cold and unforgiving place. It's a tough watch, and justifiably uncompromising. Go to Full Review Michael Leader Den of Geek 05/07/2024
3/5
While The Unloved succeeds in creating a uniquely sparse, melancholy atmosphere, it is a success that requires the sacrifice of the kind of necessary emotional connection that such social realist dramas need to be truly moving. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site 03/04/2021
Morton dramatizes the relationship between her central characters with an honest and complex emotionalism. Go to Full Review Sarah Manvel Critic's Notebook 08/09/2018
Everything Ms. Morton has done in her career has brought her to making this film. Even if she never directs again, The Unloved will stand as an intelligent achievement. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/26/2020 Very slow with not much of a climax. Somewhat confusing. See more 11/05/2017 Windsor's taciturn and stoic central performance is both haunting and affecting, framed by Morton's deliberate, even stately direction. See more 07/19/2015 A very average movie. See more 04/13/2014 Loved it!! watched it so many times. See more 08/29/2013 I am too sensitive for a film like this. See more 08/03/2013 I thought this was a decent film. Interesting to see how it is in group homes. The little girl that played Lucy was brilliant. I liked the chemistry between Lucy and her roomate at the home. Nice little movie. See more Read all reviews
The Unloved

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Samantha Morton

Director

Robert Carlyle

Father

Susan Lynch

Mother

Michael Socha

Michael

Lauren Socha

Lauren

Molly Windsor

Lucy

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The Unloved

The Unloved (2009) The Unloved (2009) The Unloved (2009) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Lucy is 11-years-old and lives with her father. One day, not for the first time, he beats her. The next time she returns to school, Lucy asks to see her social worker Jackie. Lucy is known to social services and has been in foster care before, but none of her foster parents have any placements available. Jackie takes her to a children's home, Crop Row, where she is left with nothing except the school uniform she is wearing.
Director
Samantha Morton
Producer
Andrew Eaton, Kate Ogborn
Screenwriter
Tony Grisoni, Samantha Morton
Production Co
Revolution Films, Film4, EM Media
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2017
Runtime
1h 46m