Sisterhood: You can't choose family

It all starts with a freak Hoover accident occuring in New Zealand and London to two very different women at exactly the same time.

Not many movies can boast that as the opening scene, but Sisterhood is unlike many films gracing the big screen today.

The quirky comedy follows Catherine St John-Burke, a status-obsessed and uptight young woman who comes to her Chelsea flat and finds a hairy-legged New Zealander drinking beer on the sofa.

To complicate matters further this woman claims to be Catherine's long-lost half sister, Shirley Zachary - and she isn't about to be shooed out of Catherine's chic apartment, or her life, in a hurry.

Following the untimely death of her mother (dodgy Hoover, electric shock) Shirley is devastated to find that her beloved farm in New Zealand has been claimed by her con-artist dad Jack McClarky, rendering her homeless.

A twelve-hour flight later Shirley insists that Catherine, whose mother also died in the aforementioned Hoover accident, may too soon be homeless if they don't track down their unscrupulous dad.

But with mobsters and his eighty-year old lover also in hot pursuit, Jack isn't an easy man to find!

Despite a shockingly tight budget, Sisterhood is sprinkled with faces recognisable from shows such as Footballer's Wives, Lost, Spooks and Hustle amongst others.

The quirky comedy follows Catherine St John-Burke, a status-obsessed and uptight young woman who comes to her Chelsea flat and finds a hairy-legged New Zealander drinking beer on the sofa.

Alexandra Sheppard

Nicholas Ball is perfect as the cunning McClarky; as one of the more experienced actors on board he is famous for his title role in the 70s TV series Hazell, and more recently, Eastenders.

However, the shoot was very much a family affair - most of the New Zealand cast was found via word of mouth at the local pub!

Many of the shoot locations, such as Catherine's Chelsea apartment, were 'borrowed' from friends and family of the producer, writer and co-star of Sisterhood, Emily Corcoran.

However, that isn't to the film's detriment. As many cinema-goers can testify, a big budget doesn't always equal a good time for the audience.

The quirky, irreverent script is complemented by a professional and experienced cast who obviously had fun in their roles.

And who needs a multi-million pound budget for that?

To win tickets to the West End premiere on 9th October, see the studentbeans.com Facebook fan page.

Sisterhood is released in UK cinemas on the 17th October 2008.

For more information and to book tickets, see SisterhoodFilm.com.