Living on the unforgiving streets of East London, Mike (Frank Dillane) is an intelligent and charismatic man trapped in a relentless cycle of substance abuse and impulsive decisions. After a drug-fuelled act of violence leads to a prison sentence, he attempts to reconstruct his life, even finding a flicker of hope through a tentative romance with a French colleague (Megan Northam). But his journey toward redemption is precariously balanced, as the slightest slip into old temptations threatens pull him back into the shadows.

Urchin marks the highly impressive directorial and screenwriting debut of British actor Harris Dickinson (Babygirl, Triangle of Sadness), who also appears in a key supporting role as Nathan. The gritty social drama made a significant splash at the Cannes Film Festival, with Dillane’s powerhouse performance earning him the prestigious Best Actor award. Notably, the film also eschews traditional clichés of homelessness, instead blending raw realism with surreal, impressionistic flourishes that explore the fragile mental state of its protagonist.