Brian (David Earl) lives all alone in a farm house in a rural welsh village. As loneliness and depression begins to take hold he throws himself into inventing as a way to keep his mind busy. The result is a robot named Charles  (Chris Hayward). 

Charles, who in a particularly lovely scene chooses his own name of Charles Petrescu is both a friend and a surrogate child for Brian. As he learns and their friendship grows deeper we see Brian’s spirits lift and Charles yearn to grow outside of his boundaries. There are comic moments as Charles begins to behave more and more like a teenager but at its heart it is more a reflection on how friendship and companionship can be a vast power for good. 

Brian finds himself able to talk with Hazel (Louise Brealey) in the local village more and begins to stick up for himself against the local bully (Jamie Michie). 

The film is shot like a fly on the wall documentary and is at its best when sharing small moments shared between friends. Their shared love for cabbage and the occasional montage are delightful and absurd. It also shows some wonderful welsh countryside albeit in the wind and rain. 

The film is written by its stars, David Earl and Chris Hayward and directed by Jim Archer. It started life as a short film released in 2017 by the same trio which is readily available on Vimeo and YouTube and I would strongly suggest you catch that as well. Across the 12 minute short and 90 minute film there are a number of lovely and touching moments about a lonely man finding friendship. But the absurd surreal setting make for a quirky comedy that is full of grinning moments. 

Lovely is an apt word.