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United Kingdom · 2015
1h 54m
Director Michael Caton-Jones
Starring Shirley Henderson, Letitia Wright, Isabella Laughland, Ian Hart
Genre Crime, Drama
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Against the backdrop of the UK summer riots of 2011, Jamie comes of age in a troubled environment. However, when she meets a new and determined social worker named Kate, she starts to see a way out of her difficult life. Kate encourages Jamie to use her beautiful singing voice to chart a new path forward.
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Brad Wheeler
Handled by veteran Scottish director Michael Caton-Jones, Urban Hymn is an unimaginative drama, carried by solid acting – Isabella Laughland is chilling as the possessive, menacing Leanne – but let down by an unspectacular script.
Competent if pedestrian Urban Hymn takes a familiar walk down the path of inspirational youth drama.
It’s heavy-handed, but with such fine performances from the youngsters, aided by the ever-reliable Shirley Henderson (as a social worker), that it’s hard not to get sucked into this tragic tale.
Led by a trio of tremendous performances from its female leads, Wright, front and centre as Jamie, is the stand-out.
Los Angeles Times by Kimber Myers
Urban Hymn is so carefully and lovingly made by director Michael Caton-Jones and his leads that it’s hard to begrudge the British drama its familiar premise, especially as you squint at the screen through tears.
Washington Post by Mark Jenkins
Music redeems an at-risk teen in Urban Hymn, a social-problem melodrama whose other major characters don’t fare so well.
A mixed bag, but one that comes good in its closing stretch, working its way towards a place of quiet power.
The New York Times by Neil Genzlinger
If Urban Hymn starts with that familiar dynamic, it stays surprisingly fresh thanks to three fine performances and a willingness to be uncompromising.
Time Out London by Tom Huddleston
The crude good-girl/bad-girl dynamic between its young leads is just one of many crass elements in this woolly, well-meaning but fatally unconvincing melodrama.
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