Rose-Lynn Harlan (Jessie Buckley) is a largely unlikable hero but we can’t help hoping she finds her way to success.

Fresh out of a year in prison, she’s determined to resume her long held dream to find stardom as a country singer in Nashville. Her fellow prisoners cheer her on and she eventually finds her way back to her mum Marion’s house (Julie Walters). Marion, we can see, has been holding things together for Rose-Lynn for awhile, including raising her two kids, Lyle (Adam Mitchell) and Wynonna (Daisy Littlefield).

Rose-Lynn has a voice but she’s not really a nice person. She lies her way into a job as a daily woman (cleaner) for middle class Susannah (Sophie Okonedo), takes advantage of most people and gets stroppy when things don’t go her way. She’s good at pretending when she needs to though and Susannah sees in her just a poor Glasgow girl with a big talent.

We know where we want the story to go – Rose-Lynn needs to face up to her responsibilities and be a better mum but we also want her to find success as a singer. At times it’s a frustrating ride as she wastes the opportunities given to her by being stupidly selfish and immature but there are moments of joy and relief from the frustration, primarily when she sings.

Buckley is really great, holding the screen and carrying the story. For all her flaws, she makes Rose-Lynn into a believable and familiar character, we probably have all had someone like her in our lives at some point. Mostly we can walk away but we can feel Marion’s loving anguish as she despairs at Rose-Lynn ever growing up.

For a moment I thought director Tom Harper might be selling us at well-worn trope where women have to choose between career and motherhood. It’s not the case though and the film ends on a pleasing crescendo where Buckley and Rose-Lynn finally bring down the house.