Off the Rails

Two urbex and parkour-obsessed teenagers face up to reality following the death of their friend, in Peter Day’s riveting portrait of urban life.

Best friends Rikke Brewer and Aiden Knox, rebellious working-class teenagers in the unremarkable Surrey town of Guildford, have sought escape for years by recording wild stunts on, off and around the town’s urban environment. But the death of a friend, and the mental health issues the boys experience as a result, highlight the precarious state of their lives. Day's film embraces the thrill of urbex and parkour but proves most rewarding in its compassion for Rikke and Aiden’s friendship and their pessimistic worldview. Featuring a decade of self-shot archive material, Off the Rails presents a visceral and moving portrait of growing up.

This film is Audio described. To access the audio description and to book a headset, please email access[at]sheffdocfest.com. There is a limited number of headsets available and they are bookable on a first-come, first-served basis.