Letitia Wright is going to be a big star. It's easy to see why her lead acting debut in Urban Hymn got her the role in Black Panther. She is so good in this film as are the other two female leads, Shirley Henderson and Isabella Laughland. Powerful, emotional viewing. 8 out of 10 for me.

Urban Hymn is the best coming of age movie I have seen in a while! The movie shows the struggles faced by a troubled teen trying to better her future. In the beginning of the film there is not much hope for foster child Jamie, until a new case worker comes along and changes everything. The case worker is played by Shirley Henderson, who also plays Moaning Myrtle. Once Kate, the case worker, gets involved with Jamie's life there are noticeable differences in her behavior. Kate introduces Jamie to a music group and ends up changing her life. My favorite part of this film was when Jamie finally stands up to her friend Leanne, who would continuously draw Jamie it to making very bad decisions. I felt that even though Leanne was a negative influence on Jamie, that she wasn't a bad person, just never learned any better. I think that this film shows the truth of what living in a foster home would be like, also the impact that social workers have on their foster children. Foster children are sometimes given up on, but Urban Hymn shows that a little support and motive great things will happen. I recommend this movie to anyone looking for a feel-good film.

What a breathtaking film! Urban Hymn is a powerful and heart-wrenching story of an inner-city teenager named Jamie Harrison, broken from her harrowing journey thus far. Jamie discovers her purpose in life through the grace and generosity of social worker Kate Linton, as she leads Jamie toward the power of music. Jamie then reveals to have a stunning voice that astonishes all who have only known her for pillaging and being an overall miscreant. Her troubled past life seems to get in the way of her newfound hope for a better life for herself, namely her degenerate best friend Leanne whose selfish attempts to keep Jamie from following her dream results in a shocking twist at the end of the film. From a cinematographic standpoint, the aesthetic of the multiple shots of Kate running through the park in London on a cloudy day matches the tone of film so perfectly. I think the thing that really makes this film stand out is its actors' incredible performances. They are so transparent and passionate; the story itself is such a classic turnaround coming of age story, but it is so beautifully and organically illustrated through these unique characters. This thrilling and complex film is definitely a must-see!

With quiet grace, Urban Hymn steps forth onto the stage, a single spotlight pierces the darkness, a pinprick of sound in a void, we wait. This entire film is waiting, with bated breath and hardened limbs, we wait. We wait for our wispy protagonist (Shirley Henderson) to connect with her troubled teen charge (Letitia Wright). We wait for this troubled teen to step out from her shadows and brave the light, we wait. This film gains traction as it moves, it relishes in the evolution of its characters, and celebrates their triumphs. Director Michael Caton Jones celebrates the individual in this film, which is exactly what saves it from the all too familiar pitfalls of its genre. Following the well worn path of past coming of age stories, Jones breathes new life to this emotional journey with his brilliant cast. Shirley Henderson becomes social worker Kate Linton, a grieving mother struggling to let go of her murdered son. Henderson plays this part beautifully, equal parts confident and hesitant, never overplaying either, she finds a delicate balance within her character. New to the screen Letitia Wright, too talented to believe this is her first feature lead role, lends her trembling, soprano voice to the film. Wright manages to be both brash and vulnerable within the same breath, a skill that lends itself well to his film. Outside of the dangerous dichotomy between Kate and Jamie Harrison, London looms, and it has never looked so beautiful. Cinematographer Dennis Crossan creates a world from a pallet of muted tones, careful faded pastels juxtaposed with warm gashes of golden light. Crossan keeps the camera tight on our characters, and the claustrophobic nature of the film fails to lift except in a few moments of unbridled freedom. It is for these moments that we wait, we wait for our happy ending, for our characters to find themselves. Sometimes we wait for nothing, but in this movie the wait is worth it.