Exclusive first look at acclaimed British independent film Chuck Chuck Baby

Watch: Exclusive trailer for Chuck Chuck Baby

Chuck Chuck Baby is set to add to British independent cinema history, joining a long line of classics that have entranced viewers and changed the genre for the better.

Directed by Janis Pugh, and supported by BFI & BBC Films, the British independent movie has been likened to classics like The Full Monty and Billy Elliot and will land in cinemas on 19 July. The romantic drama follows Helen, a woman who finds solace in reconnecting with her teenage crush Joanne when she returns home after twenty years apart.

In an exclusive first-look trailer shared with Yahoo UK, viewers are introduced to the would-be couple as they meet again at Helen's workplace, a chicken factory in industrial North Wales.

Chuck Chuck Baby is where Helen spends her nights working, while in the day she looks after her terminally ill mother-figure Gwen. It is through her reforged bond with Joanne that she comes to learn things about herself, and the pair are also forced to reckon with their dark pasts in order to look to the future.

The trailer shows how the two women come to reconnect and the joy they find in each other even if their lives are far from perfect. In the exclusive clip, viewers also get a sense of the colourful, musical world that Pugh has created through their story, which features the music of Neil Diamond, Janis Ian, Minnie Riperton and more.

The film stars Sherlock and Such Brave Girls star Louise Brealey as Helen, who is joined in the cast be Annabel Scholey as Joanne, Sorcha Cusack as Gwen, Celyn Jones as Gary, and Emily Fairn as Amy.

Sharing a statement about the film, Pugh said: "I am absolutely delighted that Chuck Chuck Baby has made it to general release in the UK. Our independent film, shot in 26 days has captured so many hearts on its festival journey, from Edinburgh to Toronto, Palm Springs, Zurich and many more.

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"It’s a testament to an amazing cast and crew for all their hard work and belief in the story. But mostly it’s a fantastic tribute to the working women celebrated in the film."

Chuck Chuck Baby will be released in UK and Irish cinemas from Friday, 19 July 2024. The film will also be released in cinemas in the US soon.