Sweet Sue

Sue (Maggie O’Neil) is in something of life’s doldrums. She owns scruffy party outfitting shop. Has a miserable love life - she’s stood up in the first scene of the film. There are signs that she’s an alcoholic, and to add to the pressure, her younger brother is dying.

A keen biker his funeral is slightly surreal with a side-car hearse carrying his coffin and the bikers’ bourbon libation. But here Sue meets Ron (Tony Pitts). A withdrawn sunglass wearing character whom she convinces to take out on a ride during the funeral, where she can properly grieve away from her cloying sister-in-law and mother.

But Ron has baggage with his son Anthony (Harry Trevaldwyn) a gay influencer wannabe who has got a wealthy sugar daddy Terry (Jeff Rawle) attached to him, though it’s all frustratingly platonic for the latter.

Ron, Sue and Anthony are the dynamic trio set up writer director Leo Leigh who then introduces a few sub-characters like Ron’s mate Gordon (Nick Holder) and his exe wife. Character wise they don’t add much rather provide some insight into these people’s lives and much like Sue’s family are quickly discarded.

This is very much slice of life, kitchen sink territory. Totally unglamourous though has very little of the social politics of the directors who usually specialise in this area. This is more that modern life is by and large frustrating and boring which you have to try to make the best of.

Sue however is the fulcrum but all are frustrated people. Anthony’s ambitions are hampered by his complete lack of talent or self-realisation. Ron’s issues are deeper set with him unable to properly communicate his feelings, to anyone. Sue herself a flawed borderline alcoholic with a very mean streak as Gordon and Anthony find out.

And that is all well and good but for much of the film there’s painfully little to engage with. An understanding of their lives and characters are established but there’s little empathy for them or their situations. That Anthony is a two faced narcist, Ron will not keep it together due to the pressures put on him or that safe and sure Sue will lash out at some point, are givens.

Leigh does try to lift the film with some attempts at humour from the absurd situations. Its just that she’s made them far too bleak and pointed to be anything but depressing and out of range of true black humour.

Sweet Sue will be in UK cinemas from 22 December 2023.