Hector has been living on the motorways for years. Read more …
His once comfortable family life has been replaced by a never-ending tour of service stations that offer him shelter, anonymity, washing facilities and food. The story follows his journey south from Scotland on his annual pilgrimage to a temporary Christmas shelter in London where he finds comfort, friendship and warmth. Over the course of his Homeric journey, Hector decides to reconnect with his long estranged past. As his previous life catches up with him, the story of how he came to be leading a marginal life begins to emerge.
Mullan’s exceptional, the film warm, unfussy and moving.
Peter Mullan is sublime in Jake Gavin’s uplifting, socially conscious Christmas film.
First-time writer-director Jake Gavin’s sweet portrait of homelessness is far removed from Ken Loach’s gritty, desperate dramas.
It could have been a simplistic tearjerker but Gavin doesn’t overplay his hand; the story is hardly full of surprises but hardships and dangers are balanced by the kindness that Hector receives.
In the end it ambles to a fairly predictable conclusion without really saying much about anything.
Peter Mullan plays a vagrant searching for his sister in a naturalistic tale that’s indebted to Ken Loach.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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