Rare Beasts

Billie Piper stars in her own directorial debut, a no-holds-barred, Fleabag-esque anti-romcom about a modern woman’s struggles in work and love.

Mandy is chaotic, confrontational and vulnerable. But so are her parents and needy new partner. The fallout from these ever-colliding characters is combustible – this is Piper’s exploration of self-worth in a time of reclaimed feminism and contentious politics. The results are hilarious and grim, often at the same time, puncturing the oft-believed preconception that we can ‘have it all’.

Billie Piper has long established herself as one of our more daring and unpredictable actors, so it’s no surprise that her striking first feature as writer-director embodies these qualities. The minefield of contemporary careers and relationships has rarely been depicted with such frankness, intimacy and originality.