Sunshine Cleaning (15)

Our April film will be Sunshine Cleaning. From the producers of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE comes this charming Sundance hit, played with comic zest and quiet desperation by Amy Adams (DOUBT, JUNEBUG, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, JULIE & JULIA, ENCHANTED) and Emily Blunt (THE WOLFMAN, THE YOUNG VICTORIA, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA).

Single-mum Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) is a plucky ex-cheerleader now cleaning houses and having an affair with her high-school sweetheart, Mac (Steve Zahn). When Mac, a police detective, suggests the lucrative job opportunities in crime-scene cleanup, Rose enlists her sister, Norah (Emily Blunt), to join her in the gory but ultimately fulfilling business enterprise.

The sisterly chemistry between Adams and Blunt forms the crux of their characters' growth throughout the film: Rose's optimism (reciting self-affirmations and positive spins on her occupation: "...It's a growth industry") complements Norah's cynical, wickedly humorous exterior, which hides a vulnerable heart. Rounding out this likable cast is Alan Arkin, appearing as Joe, the sisters' grumpy father, and Jason Spevack, who plays Rose's eight-year-old son, Oscar.

SUNSHINE CLEANING has all the familiar ingredients of a small independent feature (dysfunctional family spanning three generations, offbeat comic situations, dark emotional subtext), but thanks to the keen directorial hand of Christine Jeffs (who also directed the Sylvia Plath biopic, SYLVIA) the film manages to transcend indie-film quirkiness, offering a heartfelt story of family bonds.

Daily Express said "Sunshine Cleaning is a winning combination of heartbreak and quirky humour", Empire Magazine said "the performances are superb" and Digital Spy said "Jeffs shows skilful handling of tone and mood, wonderfully striking balance between laughs and tears. What a relief it is to unearth this quietly sparkling gem".

Sunshine Cleaning will be shown on Monday 26th April, at the Church Rooms, Church Lane, Lostwithiel. Tickets cost £4 and will be available in advance from Watts Trading or on the door if not already sold out.