Pond Life (15)
Directed by Bill Buckhurst

SET in a quiet former mining village outside Doncaster in the summer of 1994, this charming and gentle coming-of-age drama captures the joys of fishing along with the angst of growing up.

The film centres on a group of youngsters who live near Decoy Ponds, known locally for its legendary giant carp named Nessie, which has managed to give everyone the slip.

So the young Trevor (Tom Varey), on the dole, decides to take a number of  friends and neighbours on an all-night fishing expedition to the pond to land the elusive fish.

Although set against the backdrop of a fractured mining community where life has never been the same since the pits closed, the drama essentially focuses on young people who, despite coming from broken homes and having a harsh life, just want to be kids enjoying a summer of fun, laughs and adventure.

It also revolves around Trevor’s relationship with Pogo (a superlative Esme Creed-Miles), a teenage girl with special needs who he looks after and takes along on his overnight fishing trip. She dotes and relies on him and his friendship, a constant in her life.

Written by Richard Cameron, Bill Buckhurst’s debut feature is a wonderfully nostalgic snapshot of a hot and balmy 1990s British summer, driven by magical performances from a young cast who portray colourful and memorable teenage characters.

Their youthful exploits belie something darker lurking under the surface, especially in the case of Pogo, which you can’t quite put your finger on.

It all adds to their determination to catch Nessie over the course of a single night and never has a fishing trip looked like so much fun.

An understated gem of a film.