'Days of the Bagnold Summer' (2019) – Simon Bird.

A smartly-written, Anvil-dry British coming-of-age comedy about a pale, timid, emotionally withdrawn, heavy metal-loving 15-year-old boy Daniel (Earl Cave) who confusingly finds himself at home, forced by unforeseen circumstances to spend the summer holidays with his recently divorced, sweet, but rather staid librarian mother (Monica Dolan ). His sojourn within the stifling pristine confines of sedate, somewhat anonymous suburbia allows for some nicely observed comedic vignettes between the well-meaning, increasingly exasperated mum, and the surly, monosyllabic, virulently shoe shop-hating Daniel, their enforced proximity also engenders a number of tender moments of genuine pathos, the poor mother's frequent attempts to reconnect with her sullen, frequently unkind son was deliciously awkward to behold, and yet, undeniably truthful. 'Days of the Bagnold Summer' has boundless charm, a rapier-sharp wit, and a delicate eccentricity that proved wholly irresistible, the plentiful comedic elements given a potent boost by the clearly gifted lead actors, and it was lovely to see colourful TV favourites Rob Brydon & Tamsin Grieg both deliver such wonderfully wry performances. While treading in familiar territory, Simon Bird's quirky, consummately acted, very metal comedy is a breath of fresh hair!