The charming tale of a young girl's triumph of imagination over the oppressive injustices of childhood.

Shot on location - s16m, 7min, colour, 1.85, stock: Fuji

"A real gem" - Claire Geddie, BFI Southbank

"Brilliantly shot and very professional... The girl was great...in terms of technical flair, I thought it was superb" - Stuart McGurk, thelondonpaper I decided to be brave and move away from my natural instincts as a Director. That is, to veer towards the darker, more fantastical side of life.

I wanted to create a story of childhood, powerful enough in its simplicity that it would make an impact without relying on shock value. Having a nine-year-old protagonist represented another challenge, but it was a risk that I wanted to take on, and one that paid off well when we found our star.

The story was inspired by my mother's childhood. As a child she was banned from having long hair, so used to put a stocking on her head as a substitute. As someone who was always allowed the luxury of long hair, I was moved by the defiance and ingenuity of her act.

Now, as an adult, when I look at my Mother and others I know who have had to endure genuine hardships and misfortunes, I can't help but admire those with the grace and dignity to see what light is left and choose, in their own weird way to overcome it.

I wanted to make a short film about an innocent's triumph of imagination over oppression and the transcendence possible through the simple act of not accepting a bad hand as being final.

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