Bonobo

Middle-aged, middle-class divorcee Judith (Peake-Jones) is horrified when her daughter, Lily (Wyld), abandons law school for a suburban commune based on the behavioural traits of bonobo apes, not least because it seems that all their problems are solved by having lots of sex.

Having failed to persuade Lily to reconsider, Judith is invited by the group’s leader (Lawrence) to spend a weekend there and judge the community and its methods for herself, and she undergoes a damascene conversion – of sorts.

This unusual comedy drama is the debut feature from director Hammett Knott and his co-writer Joanna Benecke, and is a small masterpiece of economic filmmaking that boasts understated and warmly compassionate performances from its talented ensemble cast.