Eddie Marsan delivers a strong performance in this thoughtful drama centered on a council employee named "May." His job involves handling the estates of individuals who pass away without any family to claim them. He approaches his work with precision and care, diligently attempting to locate someone to inherit their belongings and oversee the basic cremation service provided by the local government. While working on the case of "Billy Stoke," he learns that he’s being made redundant. Rather than simply leaving, he requests additional time to complete the investigation into this man's life, which leads him to meet "Kelly" (Joanne Froggatt), his daughter whom he hasn’t seen in years. Like many of the narratives presented, it explores themes of abandonment and mistreatment followed by a lengthy separation, and Marsan portrays his character with sensitivity, allowing him to serve as a touching means for relatives to reflect on their choices during a period when past grievances might be best set aside. The story feels genuine because it doesn’t shy away from difficult realities; there's no attempt to portray events in an idealized light, particularly at the conclusion, which I personally found jarring. This film offers a broader perspective and could potentially encourage those who have lost contact with their families to reconsider reconciliation. There's a certain sadness in the image of an official carrying out their duties as the sole attendee at a funeral! It was backed by RAI, earning a David nomination but failing to receive any recognition from BAFTA.

Source on TMDB