Cal

2013·Movie
1h 29min
53
MediocreGoodWatch score

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Cal fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and fast-paced

Fast from start to finish.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace7
  • Violence6

Heart

Melancholic and moving

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics9
  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Cringe Humor3

World

Everyday modern life, family, and class and money

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Standout characters

  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7
  • Acting7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchBinge-FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting mood

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Twenty-year-old Cal returns from France to Britain after receiving news that his mother is ill. His finds his home city of Bristol facing hard economic times brought on by the global economic crisis, with poverty and crime on the rise and rioting and looting almost a nightly occurrence. It is not a warm homecoming as his sick mother remains stubbornly homophobic and wants nothing to do with the now openingly gay Cal while his battered Auntie Jane, now living in a run down council house, dulls her stagnation with welfare funded booze and disturbing attempts to sexually seduce her nephew. Navigating his way across this new landscape he meets a young student who needs his help. However his act of kindness brings him into contact with a lawless drug dealing pimp and a race against time to make peace with his mother and get out of town as quickly as possible. An intense tale of a family mired in poverty, angry and lost but still searching for love, respect and acceptance.
Social RealismPoverty and CrimeFamily DysfunctionLGBTQ+ ThemesDrug AbuseBritish CinemaUrban DecayDesperation and Survival

Crew

Directed by:
Written by:

Sequels and Prequels

Media

Questions about Cal

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Cal legally?

Cal is included with a subscription to Dekkoo in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Cal worth watching?

53
MediocreGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 54/100 (IMDb 5.6). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Cal rated?

ViolenceSexual contentDrug useStrong language

Content advisories: violence, sexual content, drug use, and strong language.

How long is Cal?

1 h 29 min

Cal runs 1 h 29 min.

What language is Cal in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Cal?

3FRCAUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Cal in 3 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

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