It received mostly positive reviews from critics and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

Later Lauryn, his older schoolmate, says she thinks German isn't even a proper language, dismissing the teacher's ambiguously racist comments while trying to comfort JJ.

Later JJ feeds a surprisingly friendly magpie and subsequently he shows Lauryn how he can get another wild bird to hop into his hands.

Using indirect language and incomplete sentences, he angrily questions Jackie about the pregnancy while JJ and Lauryn listen.

Shortly following Mark's rebuke late in the pregnancy, in a moment of deep despair, Jackie attempts to harm herself with a sharp instrument.

The baby lays her hands on the grave and the bird comes back to life, emerges from the earth and flies away.

[4] Variety praised the film, saying: "Idris Elba and Nadine Marshall excel in Debbie Tucker Green's oblique, engrossing psychodrama.

"[6] The Telegraph awarded it three out of five stars, saying: "while this is an uneven, imperfect film, it's still an unusual and interesting one: a slice of modern British bleakness, with just enough strangeness to keep things fresh.

"[7] Empire awarded it three out of five stars, calling it: "A soulful drama that heralds the arrival of a new voice in British cinema.