The Thousands

Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) is the same kind of anxious, solipsistically precocious teenager as Adrian Mole and Max Fischer, gorged on cultural arcana and appearing not to have slept in a week. He wades into the adult world, but finds himself sinking as he struggles to reignite his parents’ (Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor) marriage, which he believes threatened by a new neighbour, the mullet-wearing new-age numpty Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine). Hawkins and especially Taylor give subdued, sympathetic performances that reveal things aren’t that simple.

Meanwhile, Oliver’s wooing the Frankie-esque Jordana Bevan (Yasmin Paige). Adolescence is often idealised onscreen as embarrassing yet voluptuous; but bundled in their ever-present duffel coats and trading cynicisms, these two seem terrified of pleasure. They reminded me of Maria Bustillos’s spirited defence of hipster kids – “it can break your heart to see their fear and insecurity…manifested in distrust and an assumed arrogance.”

Those familiar with director Richard Ayoade’s comedy will recognise Submarine’s deadpan absurdity; but it’s surprisingly impressionistic and melancholic, too. Even happy scenes are soundtracked by yearning ballads from Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner. But while Oliver has submerged himself in cinematic pathos, Ayoade hints that he’s about to surface for air.