THIS would be ideal for the stage. A depiction of the intimate relationship between three children and how this relationship affects them in later life, its emphasis is firmly on dialogue and character development. There is ostensibly one location: a childrens' home on a remote coastal region of Northumberland. Bar some scenes in a car, and the nearby surroundings, we never stray far from this one location. However, we move in time. The film takes place over two time frames. In the earlier time frame 14-year-old Danny arrives at the home in an emotional mess. The stronger, brighter Billy takes a liking to the boy, and protects him from bullying by the other kids, teaching him to read and building his confidence. Ruby, a sensitive, red-haired girl at the home, also takes pity on Danny. Thus the seeds for a binding friendship are sown. The later time frame shows the threesome, now in their thirties, being reunited after a long absence. The older Billy now seems hardened and dangerous. He carries a gun in his glove compartment and is strung out by his coke habit. He and Ruby, a calm, good-looking woman are together, but there is unease between them. Billy dominates. She goes along with him. So does the now self-assured Danny, although reluctantly. Things start to unravel when Billy takes them back to the now derelict childrens' home. The idea is to reassert their friendship. But Billy is a bully. They must also face the ghosts of their childhood. It's a funny old story, although apparently based on the real life childhood experiences of writer Danny Padmore. The action chops back and forth between the two periods, gradually revealing the full extent of the three's relationship and a shared dark secret. Akomfrah manages to ween confident performances out of his young actors. Daniel Newman gives a particularly mature, charasmatic performance as the young Billy, and is an actor to watch out for. Also, the cinematography of the coast and the growing-up years at the childrens' home is evocative. However, the second time frame doesn't work as well. Aspects of the plot don't ring true and the performances seem uncertain. The end result is that although the film is shorter than your average feature, it seems more drawn out.