Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Sorry We Missed You Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see masterpiece of independent-spirit cinema by the great Ken Loach (Kes)

Sorry We Missed You is a compelling drama exploring the life of a family on the brink of peril after the devastation wrought by the 2008 economic collapse. The feature-film is a must-see independent-spirit effort of acclaimed director Ken Loach (The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Kes). Produced by Rebecca O'Brien (You Were Never Really Here, Bread and Roses), Sorry We Missed You is essential viewing.

Ricky (Kris Hitchen) is a down-on-his-luck laborer hit hard by financial crisis. Due to a devastating 2008 economic crash, the hard-willed husband and father must fight to regain a footing to help his family survive the weather ahead. With few skills or opportunities before him, Ricky decides to go forward with a job working as a self-employed delivery driver for the cut-throat and ruthless boss, Maloney (Ross Brewster).

As Ricky must purchase a van to make the deliveries in his community, Ricky convinces his spouse, Abbie (Debbie Honeywood) that selling their family car (one of their only real financial assets) to purchase the van needed for the job would help his ability to earn income. Struggling day to day, headstrong Ricky pursues a better future as he dreams of one day leaving this all behind to run his own business. Abbie works as a nurse helping the sick and elderly who are home-bound while dealing with their two young kids: the rebellious son, Seb (Rhys Stone) and kind daughter Liza Jae (Katie Proctor). Can the family overcome the odds that are set against them?

The cast deliver exceptional performances which heighten the entire experience. The leading role is beautifully brought-to-life by Kris Hitchen. Kris had to convey the difficulties his character was experiencing while still conveying the humanism of the character and his familial role. This is a exceptional performance that finds all the subtleties of the character. Performing alongside the great Debbie Honeywood, the pair bounce off one another during each scene exploring their husband-wife relationship. Even the young actors in the film deliver: Rhys Stone is fantastic as the young son who is struggling with his own problems and Katie Proctor manages to convey the innocence of youth while experiencing the difficulties her family is thrust in to throughout the storyline. Sorry We Missed You is an esemble film and the entire cast manages to explore their respective characters with a clear sense of dedication to the craft.

The original music score composed by George Fenton (Groundhog Day, The Fisher King) is another compelling aspect of the production. The music is subtle and dynamic. This is not a score that asks audiences for its attention. Rather, Fenton delivers a score that seeks to subtly enhance the mood. Throughout the film, the score elevated scenes with subtle intricacies that enhanced the storytelling. Exceptional.

Don't walk. Run to buy this Blu-ray. (Or click really fast. That might work.)

The cinematography by Robbie Ryan (Slow West, Marriage Story) delivers a visual experience that is somewhere between old-school cinema (reminding one of classic 35mm) and the sleek modernism of digital cinematography. The production is visually gorgeous and the film seems to be at a crossroads in style between a documentary-like production and the independent-spirit ambitions it carries. Given the subject matter, Ryan explores the harsh realities of these characters with a subtle color pallete that is never a ray of sunshine. The visual backbone of Sorry We Missed You is one of the key reasons the filmmaking is so powerful.

There are many areas of the production which impressed. The production design by Fergus Clegg (Jimmy's Hall, It's a Free World...) is believable. The workhouse environment of the delivery warehouse is brought to life with clear realism. The home of the central family is also rather remarkable. There is a clear sense of authenticity. The production design aesthetics are also well matched by the impressive art direction by Julie Ann Horan (A Brilliant Young Mind, Peaky Blinders). Throughout the film, the sparseness of it is felt. The storytelling is all the more effective because of this element.

The costumes by Jo Slater (Death in Paradise, Shameless) are convincing and true to the characters and their environments. The efforts of Slater can be felt throughout the entire experience. This is a impressive effort by the costume designer and the characterizations are more believable as a result. Throughout the film, there was never a moment which seemed out-of-place in regards to costumes.

Edited by Jonathan Morris (Looking for Eric, Land and Freedom), Sorry We Missed You is a film that never outstays its welcome. The filmmaking is tight and focused. There is a sense of purpose behind every single scene. Every frame. The experience is all the more compelling and haunting because of how perfectly edited the production is. Morris never strikes a wrong note. This is cinema magic.

Featuring an intelligent screenplay by Paul Laverty (Bread and Roses, The Wind that Shakes the Barley), director Ken Loach crafted a masterpiece. There is something remarkably powerful about Sorry We Missed You. Every moment seems essential to telling the story. Loach managed to bring forth the best from his cast and the entire team who worked on the feature. Fans of the filmmaker would be remiss to overlook this remarkable achievement. A must-see film.

Sorry We Missed You Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Sorry We Missed You is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The video is a satisfactory presentation of the intended aesthetic for the feature-film. The video is sometimes a bit grainy in appearance but the encoding is consistently satisfactory. Color reproduction is top-notch and the film looks as intended. The transfer feels cinematic and involving: as if the transfer presents a film that blends together both past and modern forms of cinematography. There were no egregious problems to report with regards to the encode quality.

Sorry We Missed You Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound presentation. The lossless audio track is top-notch from beginning to end. Dialogue is consistently crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The surround sound tracks are minimalistic in implementation but are effective when utilized. There are scenes that utilize the rear speakers for some nice (if subtle) ambiance which enhances the tone of the filmmaking. The track is highly effective and fits the somewhat sparse style of filmmaking.

Please Note: An optional DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is also provided for the release. Optional English subtitles are also included.

Sorry We Missed You Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with director Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty

Making Sorry We Missed You (HD, 5:25) is a short EPK style behind-the- scenes piece on the production.

Deleted Scenes (HD, 5:02)

Gallery – Paintings by Aidan Doyle (HD, 6:12)

Sorry We Missed You Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:52)

The Blu-ray release includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (HD, 1:19), Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (HD, 1:55), The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (HD, 2:14), and Working Woman (HD, 1:46).

Sorry We Missed You Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sorry We Missed You is a powerful cinematic achievement. The filmmaking is exquisite and there is a sense of purpose behind every scene and frame. The performances are similarly first-rate and actors Kris Hitchen and Debbie Honeywood delve in to their roles with the kind of dedication one doesn't always see. Director Ken Loach (The Wind that Shakes the Barley) was the perfect choice to bring the script by Paul Laverty (Bread and Roses) to life. A masterpiece. Don't miss it.