"500 Miles" — A Tender Road Movie from Sheffield to Dingle

According to Barry Levitt's review in Empire, Morgan Matthews' 500 Miles is not, despite its title, a Proclaimers musical — but emotionally, it's fed by the same vein as that song. Finn (Roman Griffin Davis) and his little brother Charlie (Dexter Sol Ansell) have run away from home, and their plan is simple: travel from Sheffield to a small town on Ireland's Dingle coast to reunite with their estranged grandfather (Bill Nighy) and bring their family back together.

The film opens with a flashback showing a postcard-perfect day of family happiness: castles built in the sand, hide-and-seek on the beach, grandparents wrapped up in their grandchildren. Today's darkness is illuminated in reverse by the light of that lost paradise. Matthews' direction keeps the framing as low as possible — the story is told through the children's eyes; the camera mostly sits at shoulder height.

Roman Griffin Davis carries the sensitive acting we know from Jojo Rabbit into another stage of growth; Dexter Sol Ansell, the film's surprise, carries innocence and stubbornness at once. Bill Nighy, as expected, warms up scenes just by being present. Maisie Williams appears in a small but effective role.

According to Empire, 500 Miles flirts with melodrama without falling into it; it approaches clichés but pulls back in time. The result is a tender but sturdy family drama that puts the audience in the car and has them laughing and crying the whole way.

Source: Empire — Barry Levitt