Pin Cushion

A frequently heart breaking account of the daily trials of a handicapped woman and her innocent young daughter each terribly tormented by their peers. It dishes out equal parts of sweet innocence and unbridled treachery. I was upset and discouraged by the portrayals of bullying and especially with the tragic outcome. Amusing fantasy diversions. Good music and production quality. The characters were affecting and felt real. Well worth watching.

Quietly harrowing drama pulls the rug out after an apparently benign and cheerful opening sequence, presenting an extremely painful and discomforting portrait of societal bullying, through all-too-believable, wince-inducing scenarios. It is Scanlon and Newmark's duelling portraits of the wounded but still optimistic heroes which help sell this, though writer-director Haywood's uncompromising work (leading to a double whammy sick joke finale) deserves applause.