Lean on Pete film review- Charlie Plummer uplifts this troubling film

The young actor is the heart and soul of this grim story about a troubled American teenager.

Plummer plays Charley, a polite,good-natured 15-year-old saddled with a selfish, womanising father since his mother left home.

He finds a kindred spirit when he gets a job looking after a racehorse that is being run into the ground by Steve Buscemi’s low-life trainer and Chloë Sevigny’s world-weary jockey.

After a sprightly start at the racetrack British director Andrew Haigh gets a little lost during the film’s meandering middle stretch.

But Plummer’s expressive performance keeps us holding on until the touching final furlong.