Rent Nowhere Special (2020)

Superb Northern Irish film based on true story - Nowhere Special review by DL

Fantastic but heart breaking story based on true events. James Norton deserves to be nominated for awards and the child actor is unbelievable. If this doesn't tug on your heart strings there is no hope for you!

Tender Drama - Nowhere Special review by GI

A tender, beautifully played film that could have been mawkish but manages, due to the fantastic performances, to be an intimate and sad drama about the love of a father for his young son. James Norton is John, a window cleaner and single father to his toddler Michael (Daniel Lamont). John is dying of brain cancer and with no family is desperately trying to find a suitable family to look after Michael when he's gone. Social Services are helping him but John's also desperately trying to shield Michael from the reality of the situation. Norton's performance has real depth and empathy, he nicely underplays it avoiding the trap of cliché. Daniel Lamont as little Michael is a natural. Admittedly some of the prospective new parents that John sees are a bit cartoonishly awful but overall this is a remarkable story of a selfless parent desperate to give his son the very best life. A quite lovely film.

A spellbinding, devastating, brilliant film - but get your tissues at the ready - Nowhere Special review by giantrolo

What a spellbinding, devastating, brilliant film! Based on a true story, this is a proper tear jerker that is pretty much guaranteed to tug at your heart strings as the story unfolds. Brilliantly acted by the marvellous James Norton (the best villain, Tommy Lee Royce) and the startling new talent of Daniel Lamont. Very highly recommended!

A fairly by-the-numbers end of life film with a good James Norton performance - Nowhere Special review by TB

A small micro-budget film with a good central performance. James Norton is very watchable and does his best, but also once the credits roll, you won't remember too much about it. The child actor, Daniel Lamont, is also very good.

The roll call of different prospective families for Michael gives a snapshot into the many choices and worries that parents in that situation face. As someone who has never been in that position/is adopted, it's not something I massively relate to but absolutely respect the feelings of someone who is.

I do wish it could have had a bigger impact for me, but it is like many films in this vein: a small film with very good intentions that does some things right and a cast who do their best. Perfectly watchable and not too long