Director Rama Rau inbues her first narrative feature with the authority of authenticity she brings as an accomplished documentary filmmaker. Julia Sarah Stone delivers a breakthrough performance in this heart-wrenching coming-of-age film. The drama doesn't play it safe and avoids the usual high school film tropes to explore the life of a young desperate girl searching for a way out of a life working the streets. Tied with
Sophie Dupuis for
Family First (2018).