(Mon 25th - Wed 27th / 8pm / £5/4/3 TTT)
(Ben Lewin / 2012 / USA / 95 minutes)

Over the last decade John Hawkes has built a quietly impressive CV of film and TV roles, mostly supporting, that have showcased his wide-ranging talent- the heart-breakingly lonely shoe salesman in You And Me And Everyone We Know, the dignified Sol Star in Deadwood, unafraid to stare down even Ian McShane in full flow, and his eerie turns as pseudo-patriarchs in both Winter's Bone and Martha Marcy May Marlene. In his first true lead role(already picking up rave notices and awards buzz), he plays a man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity that contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest.

Treading a fine line between whimsy and seriousness, we are presented with a portrait of a person who demands neither pity nor derision, simply a drive to experience all that life can muster for anyone, regardless of their lot in life. Oscar-winner Helen Hunt (remember her?) plays "the surrogate", which was the film's original title, whilst William H Macy plays the priest we all wish we had in this triumphant true story that should hopefully go down as well with you folks as it did in Sundance.