Film at Eleven

Thanks to Lisa Rullsenberg for pointing me in the direction of The Ballad of Vicki and Jake.

Director Ian Thomas Ash’s first feature documentary is the story of Vicki, a single mother struggling with addiction, and her young son, Jake. The film opens as Vicki and Jake are beginning a new chapter in their lives, moving from a homeless shelter into their own council house. But however hard Vicki tries create a home for herself and her son, she is unable to ignore old problems and avoid new ones that arise.

Shot with hard-headed honesty, Vicki and Jake combines uncompromising interviews, scenes of drug abuse and touching intimacy between mother and son. It is a film of extremes, and as Vicki finds herself losing control the story shifts to the relationship between Vicki and the film-maker, neither of whom will give up their quest for a happy ending without a fight.

The film doesn’t have a distribution deal yet, but it does appear to be on the festival circuit. So keep an eye out because it looks like a film that is well worth seeing.

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