Chris Keane | On 13, Sep 2014

Director: Jamie Thraves
Cast: Aidan Gillen, Tom Fisher, Riann Steele
Certificate: 15

Every week we pick out the best TV series and films on BBC iPlayer. Today, it’s the fantastic British film Treacle Jr.

This low-budget Brit flick from director Jamie Thraves will have you on the edge of your seat, teasing your emotions from all sides.

Set in good ol’ Saff Laahndan, Treacle Jr. is the story of a man called Tom (a vegetarian who doesn’t believe in heaven) running away from his past. Trying to start anew down south, Tom (Fisher) meets Aidan (Gillen), an Irish guy with a lisp, in A&E, after losing a fight with a tree. From there, a beautiful Shrek and Donkey style relationship unfolds.

It would seem as though the lead character should be Tom, but the show is completely stolen by Game of Thrones’ Aidan. At first, it’s difficult to know what to make of him; he’s a bit slow in the head, always smiling, and rather in-your-face. Yet once he introduces Tom to his life, you can’t help but pity him. He’s beaten senseless (if there ever was any sense to begin with) by his girlfriend (Steele) and nothing seems to go right for him, but despite all his hardship he continues to smile and dream.

It’s tough to watch at points, but Gillen’s childish charisma keeps the laughs flowing, which stops things becoming too serious or depressing. A glimpse of how much of a struggle life is when you have nothing, Treacle Jr. will have you not knowing whether to cringe or laugh. And it’s all thanks to a great screenplay and cast.

Treacle Jr. is available to watch online on BBC iPlayer until Monday 15th September.

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