Awards and Nominations

This bitter sweet comedy follows protagonist Robbie as he sneaks into the maternity hospital to visit his young girlfriend Leonie and hold his newborn son Luke for the first time. Overwhelmed by the moment, he swears that Luke will not have the same tragic life he has had. Escaping a prison sentence by the skin of his teeth, he's given one last chance... While serving a community service order, he meets Rhino, Albert and Mo who, like him, find it impossible to find work because of their criminal records. Little did Robbie imagine how turning to drink might change their lives – not cheap fortified wine, but the best malt whiskies in the world. Will it be 'slopping out' for the next twenty years, or a new future with 'Uisge Beatha' the 'Water of Life?' Only the angels know...

The tried and trusted partnership of Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty has created one of their warmest and most accessible films in The Angels’ Share. The grim statistics behind Britain’s “lost generation” of unemployed and unemployable young people have been transformed into a heartwarming, social-realist fairytale with enough rowdy humour and sweet sentiment to appeal to Loach’s dedicated global followers and beyond.

Allen Hunter, Screen Daily