
DuaneHopkins’long-anticipatedfollowuptohis2008debutBetterThingsproveswellworththewait.ThisisBritishsocialmelodramamadeuniquelypersonalthroughtheprismofHopkins’ravishingphotographiceye(herecollaboratingwithDoPDavidProctor)–itsfractured,poeticnarrativetheperfectformforthestoryitdelivers.Toldsimply,BypassdocumentsthebreakingpointinthelifeofTim,ayoungmantoophysicallyweedyandsoft-heartedtocopewiththeextremedemandsofhislifeonacouncilestate,withaterminallyillsinglemother,anabsentfatherandbrother,andawaywardyoungersistertocarefor.AsTim’shealthdeclinesandanetoftroublesclosearoundhim,Hopkins’filmbecomespeopledwithphantomsandshadows.GeorgeMacKayisexceptionalasthehaunted,huntedTim(almostunrecognisablefromhismuscularroleinPaulWright’sForThoseinPeril).





