leerax There isn't a poor performance in Broken. It's excellent example of just how good British films can be when they are done right. It's simple and also so complicated, as life often is. It's a gripping social drama.Eloise Laurence who plays Skunk is faultless. She's a natural. I 'm not easily impressed, but this was a brilliant performance. The rest of the cast is also excellent. Notably Tim Roth and Cillian Murphy.If you enjoy Brit flicks in the mold of Mike Leigh this is a must see. You won't be disappointed.

Prismark10 Broken adapted from a novel and directed by Rufus Norris better known for his theatre work. The film is set in a London cul de sac and is a slice of life story with plenty of acknowledgements to the classic novel, 'To kill a Mockingbird.'Eloise Laurence plays Skunk, a cheery 11 year old tomboy who sees her neighbour (Rory Kinnear) severely beat up another neighbour, a mentally challenged teenager (Robert Emms) who he thinks raped his daughter and made her pregnant. The accusation is false as all of Kinner's daughters are malevolent and rough and its not the only accusation of rape they make in the movie.Skunk's dad is a kindly lawyer (Tim Roth) who is respected by many of the other neighbours. They have an au pair who is in a relationship with schoolteacher (Cillian Murphy.) Skunk also starts a budding relationship with another boy at the same time she faces bullying at high school and when Emms returns to the estate after his beating still traumatised, events take a nasty turn.Norris brings the best of his actors as he coaxes both Murphy and Roth back from Hollywood and he definitely gets the most out of the young actors. The script is poor and fights against the film. The Kinnear character should had been thrown in prison for the first beating never mind been allowed to do it again the second time. It does not matter if a traumatized boy does not want to press charges he was in no such state to make a rational decision.The drama with the on/off relationship with the au pair and the teacher as well as the au-pair later getting close to Skunk's dad was rather humdrum.What I disliked the most was people getting bullied, beaten up and no effective action being taken against the perpetrators even if witnessed by teachers for example. Of course the title of the film wants to depict a Broken Britain, damaged people who look for those rays of goodness but this film lacks focus and a cutting edge.

TxMike I found this movie on Netflix streaming movies online. With such seasoned actors as Tim Roth and a few others it seemed like a favorable risk. Overall I am glad I took the time. It is an ugly story in many parts, with several instances of bullying and beatings. But the young actress who stars as 11-yr-old "Skunk" is delightful, and I found out later, quite a good singer and song-writer.The primary setting is a cul-de-sac community in a middle class area of England. The neighbors live relatively close together and everyone seems to know everything that is going on.One resident is Tim Roth as Archie, a lawyer and a very nice man. His wife has run away and left him with a son and daughter. He has hired a lady to stay there and be the surrogate mom. The daughter is Eloise Laurence as Skunk. She and dad have a good relationship, but she is also the adventuresome sort. She finds an abandoned caravan out back and turns it into her playhouse.Another family in the cul-de-sac has a son, Robert Emms as Rick, seemingly nice but clearly with some deep emotional issues. Another nearby family have 3 daughters who are bullies, and every time they see Rick they openly tease him and agitate him badly, even in front of the parents. They also bully kids at school, including Skunk, to get their lunch money.The story gets a bit complex, there is teenage sex, false accusations, a hot-head father who beats people up and asks questions later. Through all this Skunk is trying to make sense of life and happiness. She manages, just barely. Good story and very tense at the end.SPOILERS: Skunk is a type 1 diabetic, has to monitor her blood sugar, and occasionally receive an insulin injection. One evening she goes to visit Rick, recently home from a stay in a hospital, and no one knows where she is. She begins going into a diabetic coma, dad finds her just in time, it is touch-N-go in the hospital, we even see a near death scene from her mind's eye, but then she "sees" dad and comes out of it, she goes on to live.

joyfuljaymac 'Broken' is a film about a young girl named skunk, her life is turned upside down after witnessing a violent incident happen to one of her neighbours. From then one things go from bad to worse amongst the neighbourhood and her own family.This film is acting debut of Eloise Laurence who plays Skunk, she is faultless. She keeps Skunks emotions right on the edge of her sleeves which makes her performance more real. When you look at her you can't help but smile even when it's a serious scene, she is just so cute and so amazingly talented. I hope to see her more in the future.Tim Roth plays Skunk's dad Archie. As always Tim is amazing, he really brings all the emotions a father would feel towards his daughter and puts it into his performance and let's face it, who wouldn't want Tim Roth as their on-screen father? Cillian Murphy plays Mike, the boyfriend of their au pair Kasia, he also becomes Skunk's teacher. Murphy plays Mike as the most loyal/devoted boyfriend who anyone would want, Which makes him a really likable character and even comes to Skunk's rescue which I think any girl would want. You really feel for him when things turn upside down on him, and want to reach out a give him a hug. Plus he keeps is Irish accent for this one! 'Broken' is a film full of emotions, be them happy, sad, anger or love. This film is an emotional roller-coaster ride with some brilliant actors and some wonderful singing from the lead lady herself.