Daisy-May Hudson’s Lollipop is an astounding, powerful and thought-provoking drama that explores the inequalities facing a mother who fights to get her children back following her time in prison.

In a broken system that won’t allow her to regain access to her children without a home, yet won’t provide a home without her children, the tense frustration she experiences provides an engrossing and emotional viewing experience.

Hudson’s own account of homelessness was the subject of her first feature film, a 2017 documentary titled Half Way. This, and her activism supporting housing reform as well as changes to the justice system, provide the inspiration for Lollipop, which Hudson also wrote the screenplay for.

Some of the film’s more hopeful moments shine through the friendship between the film’s lead adult characters Molly (Posy Sterling) and Amina (Idil Ahmed), in a film where every adult character is played by a woman. The cast utilises largely non-professional actors, creating an ensemble performance that is sincere, honest, and unforgettable. The child actors in particular bring a refreshingly raw acting energy to the screen.

“It’s a quietly compelling watch anchored by a strong performance from Sterling … It’s refreshing to see a character like this written by a woman who really knows her inside out” Anna Smith, Time Out

“Sterling, who is in every one of the film’s scenes, is a compelling and empathetic presence … Dimple-cheeked, she shifts between girlishness and world-weariness” Catherine Wheatley, Sight & Sound

“A powerful, vehement testimony” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian