Melanie Walters (Gavin & Stacey) and Kayleigh-Paige Rees (Sanditon) will star in an upcoming coming of age film, Faulty Roots. The film is both directed and written by Ella Greenwood and will tackle the challenges of mental health. 

This feature film is adapted from a short film Greenwood made of the same name.

Faulty Roots follows two young teenagers with two different health conditions who are forced to become friends. Lola (Rees) is struggling with her depression when she meets her new friend. The two are able to help each other in ways neither of them thought possible. Lola’s mom, Susan (Walters), is attempting to help guide her daughter through her depression.  

In a statement, Greenwood said, “I want to give people a better understanding of certain things that you experience as a teen with a mental health problem, and I’m looking forward to getting to expand on this with a feature version of Faulty Roots.” 

Rees added, “Young adults’ mental health has always been an issue very close to my heart and I can’t wait to get to explore this beautifully written film with such a talented cast and writer.” 

The project is set to begin shooting sometime next year in South West England.