I give the movie points for terrific production values, solid acting, and a decent score. But I couldn't relate to Iona at all, and even less with the mother, Lyn. Iona kept seeking friendships with terrible girls who were quite evidently terrible to Iona from the first moment they met her. I wasn't popular in school either, but I found lasting friendships with people who had similar interests and were also not the "super cool" kids. Iona had dozens of other girls who she could have made friends with, including one who seemed interested in her at the beginning. She nearly had a nice boyfriend who treated her with respect, but she forsake him in her ridiculous attempt to befriend the bullies. And all for what? To become a horrible person like these other girls? Was she that blind and stupid? Certainly, her priorities were completely upside down. I couldn't help having some pity for her, but kept shaking my head at her dumb decisions...why did you keep trying to befriend these awful girls, Iona, why? In the end, her hopeless avarice led to tragedy, and her unbalanced mother was even more self-centered with her final decision. I won't deny the emotional pull of the movie, or blame anyone who found it heartbreaking and effective. I love independent films and adore weird people who don't fit in with societal standards (quite literally, that is me). But I don't enjoy people who willingly change their nature to appease unworthy company. I don't expect Iona to grow or mature from the experiences she had in this film and her life will continue to be miserable until she finally does.

This film is brilliant. It was the sort of film that stayed with me weeks after I first watched it. The contrasts between a uniquely eccentric mother and her daughter trying to make a new life for themselves while living amongst the unempathetic, cruel society we have built.

This is probably the best movie on loneliness, bullying and associated mental health issues. So moving acting by the two lead actors. Their suffering and challenges are shown through their display of courage as they navigate life everyday carrying enormous pain in their heart. So grateful for the makers for not portraying depressed people as killers but as kind humans as most such people are in real life. This movie doesn't offer a message, but helps us reflect on ourselves, our society and our actions.

There is no denying the power of this film. In the current arena of homogenized movies written to formula this film is a welcome hard hitting and thought provoking exception. A dreamy fairy tale quality keeps is floating above it's very dark and disturbing topic. At the beginning there are places to smile in the quirkiness of the characters and their lives but it is not long before you are taken with them on their emotional journey until the finale surprising and shocking conclusion. It is a film that will stay with me and I eagerly await more by this screen play writer and director

Pin Cushion. For a change I'd not read any reviews. Didn't even know it was British. All I knew was that it was about a relationship about a mother and daughter. I didn't know it would be an intensely bleak tragi-comedy / psychological thriller / dark social realist drama with fantastical overtures. A jaw droppingly intense study of the effects of loneliness and bullying. It was Carrie without the supernatural but with the girl with long red hair and strange mother. I was an emotional wreck at the end. 8.5 out of ten. Highly recommended.

A story told with poetry and colours, about the love between a mother, her daughter and their efforts to fit-in, at the expense of valuing their own unique identity. A story of mean bullyism and peer pressure which remains cruel and hypocritical at any stage of life. A script that resonates well with our contemporary, conforming society.

Pros The film was shot on a small budget through the dedication of the team. It was shot in the writers local community. I even recognized some of the places myself (although not the bus shelter). Some of the cinematography really sets the tone of the scenes and is a high point in my opinion. The overall story is the stand out of the film (however I did leave the cinema feeling almost like I'd read a very long book of the story). Cons The story seemed to lack clarity. The acting was adequate but (perhaps because of the character personalities) the dialog seemed sterile and unreal. For a gritty drama (as this should have been) it all seemed a little bit fake and unengaging to me. I think that with a compression of the story and a couple of good reworks of the script. The actors would have had something to get their teeth into. It seemed very long for the story that was told. In my opinion this would have then made a much better short film.

source: Pin Cushion

This is probably the best movie on loneliness, bullying and associated mental health issues. So moving acting by the two lead actors. Their suffering and challenges are shown through their display of courage as they navigate life everyday carrying enormous pain in their heart. So grateful for the makers for not portraying depressed people as killers but as kind humans as most such people are in real life. This movie doesn't offer a message, but helps us reflect on ourselves, our society and our actions.

A gritty tale of a strong bond between mother and daughter. It had me gripped all the way through. I just hope people see this film.