‘Homelessness is important and this film doesn’t do it justice’

Boasting two committed performances, this nicely shot, issue-based Brit flick clearly owes a debt to Ken Loach.

But something is badly off with Jane Gull’s melodramatic script. Loach’s best films (Kes and I, Daniel Blake) make a case for social change by making us empathise with individuals suffering under an unfair system.

But the homeless couple in Gull’s second feature are so cursed by bad luck and so blighted by poor decision making, there’s no point writing to your MP.

Only a shrink or maybe an exorcist could help Irish singer-songwriter Paul (Niall McNamee) and his manager wife Sophie (Shana Swash).

The film begins with them living in a rented flat in Camden Town, one of London’s priciest neighbourhoods. Paul’s paid work consists of occasional gigs in half-empty pubs.

Sophie spends her days snapping away on her expensive digital SLR camera and hanging around with her Cockney gran. I think we’re supposed to be outraged when this carefree pair learn they’re to be evicted for not bothering to pay their rent.

Undaunted, the happy couple head to Southend, hoping to crash at a friend’s before an unbelievable run of bad luck tests their relentless optimism.

Sophie’s car dies, she’s assaulted, and she’s hospitalised from drinking a single bottle of white wine. Paul’s scooter, phone and shoes are stolen in three separate incidents. He gets a job only for his boss to run off with his wages.

Credulity is strained to breaking point when he is abducted by gangsters and forced to compete on a secret tramp-fighting circuit. Homelessness is an important issue and this preposterous film doesn’t do it justice.

Love Without Walls, Cert 15, In cinemas now