Parents' Guide to Sky Peals

This British indie sci-fi is a strange but likable tale of an outsider finding himself increasingly cut off despite very much living in the modern world. Writer-director Moin Hussain's quietly ambitious debut feature, Sky Peals spins around an unusual premise. Namely, what if its central character, Adam, finds it difficult to fit in because his recently deceased parent was an alien? With an inventive use of sound and light on a limited budget, Hussain transforms the familiar world of unglamorous jobs, drab architecture, and family obligations into something that frequently becomes bizarre and disorientating. Ayub's slouched, mumbling performance as Adam moves at a deliberately slow pace, in line with the story. It might be too downbeat and ambiguous for some, but it fits the filmmakers' interest in making us ponder what it feels like for someone isolated by their work and identity to struggle to connect with others. Don't expect any big speeches or neat resolutions toward the end, either. But what Sky Peals does provide is a curious and original way to look at the lives of others.