A delicate performance piece filled with mesmerising turns, Lou assures Australia’s position as home to the world’s best young talent thanks to a fine debut by Lily-Bell Tindley.

Written and directed by Belinda Chayko, Lou is a small family drama that deals with some intense and complex issues, namely mental illness, coming of age difficulties, and single parent families struggling with poverty.

So strong are the characters and their predicaments, that it lured one of the great thesps of our time in John Hurt to join this little Australian production, and in turn deliver one of his finest performances in years.

Yet despite Hurt’s strong showing, Lou will be remembered for the debut performance of young Lily-Bell Tindley. She plays the title role of Lou, a pre-pubescent girl who, while at constant loggerheads with her struggling single parent mother (Emily Barclay), develops a strong bond with her Alzheimer’s suffering grandfather (Hurt).

The intimate relationships which Chayko has created between these vulnerable and damaged characters gives way to some raw and emotionally rich (yet never grandstanding) performances by its small cast.

Hurt wisely opts never to go over the top with his characters mental illness, playing the affliction rather than having it play him; and Barclay adds dimensions to what could have been an easily detestable character, with one scene in particular demonstrating the depth of her characters struggle through an emotional outburst which she delivers with impressive vigour.   

Yet it is the assured acting by the films youngsters which gives Lou that extra special quality, especially from Tindley, who hits all of the complex notes required from her, delivering a turn that is equal parts cheeky, mature, and fragile, all the while standing toe-to-toe with much more experienced co-stars.

There are moments within these relationships that will have some viewers squirm in their seats. Others will find themselves staring in wonder at the picturesque North Coast backdrop that counters the grim reality of the family drama.

But it is the acting which is the films strength. Expect big things when this Lily grows.