Harris Dickinson: People that fall between the cracks, that’s always bothered me

Actor Harris Dickinson has said his directorial debut Urchin explores homelessness because he has always been “troubled” by those who fall through the cracks of society.

The 29-year-old Babygirl star, who also appears in the film alongside Fear The Walking Dead actor Frank Dillane, describes Urchin as a character study on self-improvement set against the backdrop of homelessness.

Written by Dickinson, the film follows Dillane as Mike, a rough sleeper in London caught in a cycle of self-destruction while trying to rebuild his life after a spell in prison.

Raw and absurd, Urchin is described as a story about the strange patterns that keep pulling us back.

“I think that the people that fall between the cracks in our society, that’s always bothered me, and the support network around that has always troubled me,” Dickinson told the PA news agency.

“I felt compelled to get involved, though I wasn’t sure of the best way.

“At first, I thought local mobilisation, helping at a community level, might be the most meaningful way to contribute.

“Then I started writing the script, kind of as a result.

“Homelessness became the backdrop, but the film is ultimately a character study of someone who keeps trying, despite everything, to better themselves and pull themselves out of a destructive cycle.

“In the end, homelessness is the result rather than the subject.”

Dickinson, who is set to play John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopic series, said he found juggling acting and directing a challenge.

“When I was on set directing and acting at the same time, I found it very difficult,” he said.

“I didn’t love that aspect of it because I like to be in one very clear, distinct mode.

“I didn’t necessarily intend to take on both roles, and it wasn’t something that came naturally to me.

“As an actor, I love being in the hands of a director I trust.

“That’s a place I really value, and I’m probably the opposite of someone who wants to take control.

“I need to be directed.

“I love to be directed.

“I’m not someone who tries to offer too many insights, that’s the director’s job.

“I’m very happy to just be a piece of the puzzle rather than steering it.”

On casting Dillane in the lead role, Dickinson said he recognised the sensitivity of the part.

“I’d seen him in Fear The Walking Dead years ago, when I was just starting out, and he was really intriguing to me,” he said.

“He struck me as a complicated actor, especially in the choices he made with that role.

“We auditioned a lot of people, but when Frank came in it quickly became clear that there’s a wrong version of this character.

“The archetypal, cookie-cutter portrayal of an unruly young man was something we wanted to avoid.

“The choices Frank made in that first audition were really interesting to me.

“He understood the sensitivity and the nuance, and he was willing to push and experiment with it.”

Dickinson said he does not claim to be a saviour, and the film is not meant to scrutinise those who walk past rough sleepers.

“It’s like we’ve all been that person,” he said, referring to the opening scene.

“In that scene, he asks 50 to 100 people for help. We shot it for five minutes on a long lens, using real members of the public.

“We’re not scrutinising anyone, because we’ve all been there. Life gets busy, and we can’t help everyone.

“There’s a loneliness in that, and the shock of it, doing it for that long and having no-one engage, was really telling.

“I’m not claiming to be a saviour; I’m just as guilty as anyone.”

Urchin is in UK cinemas on Friday, October 3.