Urchin is a 2025 British drama film directed by Harris Dickinson from a screenplay by Harris Dickinson. The film is set to be released in the UK on 3 October 2025.
The film premieres in the section Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, where it received good reviews and awards — actor Frank Dillane won the Best Performance Award, and Dixon himself received the FIPRESCI Critics' Prize.
The film continues with themes that are current — homelessness, addictions, social marginalization, attempts at reintegration — and is not afraid to show the harsh reality without belittling human dignity.
The main character is Mike (Frank Dillane) is a young man, homeless in London, struggling with alcohol and/or drug addiction, poverty and lack of stability. Initially, Mike lives on the streets, receiving help from strangers - such as a man named Simon, who offers him a sandwich.
Mike blames his friend Nathan (Harris Dickinson) in stealing his wallet, a scene that escalates into a conflict. Violence breaks out, he rushes to sell an item, he is arrested. After a stint in prison, Mike tries to reintegrate: he gets a temporary home, a job—lines like a cook or a cleaner, help and support.
At such a moment, mystical or surreal moments appear - for example, an image of a woman with a violin, a drainage pipe, a strange sensation, perhaps hallucinations, which emphasize Mike's inner world. Most importantly: the film does not end with a "solution", but leaves the viewer in thought - can Mike get out of this cycle, how persistent are the scars of the soul?
„Urchin“" is a strong debut because it does not give up on the difficulty of the subject and does not offer easy solutions, but at the same time does not completely despair. This is a film that will remain in the memory of viewers who love serious dramas and do not run away from pain.
