Although this low budget US indie film was clearly shot during the pandemic, as is evident by the cast often wearing face masks, it feels even more relevant now during the current cost of living crisis here in the UK.

It revolves around a young mother, who is trying to do the best for her young daughter on the sunny streets of a suburb in LA.

It’s time to get up for Danny (Kelley Kali) and her daughter Wes (Wes), but they’re not waking up in a comfortable home, as they’re living in a tent.

Although Danny tries to make it an adventure for her daughter and tells her than they’re camping, the situation is worse than that. Having her partner die, and leaving them nothing, they find themselves struggling on the streets.

Danny of course is trying her very best for her daughter, and today could well be the first day of their new lives, as Danny is hoping to put down the deposit on an apartment for the both of them to move into later.

But when she does someone’s hair, only to find that they can’t pay, Danny finds herself $200 short. It isn’t a great deal of money, but when you have nothing, it’s a lot to find in such a short space of time. So Danny gets her skates on, literally, to make sure she doesn’t break her promise to her daughter of having a roof over their head tonight. But with untold obstacles throughout the day, it’s looking more and more unlikely of them walking into a home any time soon.

There’s something beautifully simple about this film. For starters, it all takes place during one day, and we pretty much spend all of it in the company of its charming protagonist Danny.

It's a film that someone like Vittorio De Sica would mightily approve of, as it strongly resonates with the ethos of Italian neo realist cinema. Not only that, but it also has gentle echoes of his own classic The Bicycle Thief; although Danny doesn’t lose her mode of transport, her trusty roller skates, she spends the entire film on a search through her town, with the hope of making her and her daughter’s lives better by the end of the day.

With a story that’s not exactly taxing, it’s the warmth of the characters, especially Danny, that make the film so engaging.

The film also deals with the notion that despite Danny constantly in motion, as she whips around from place to place on her skates, she is still essentially treading water in her life, literally getting nowhere fast.

And much like you root for Antonio to find his stolen bicycle in The Bicycle Thief, you do the same for Danny on her quest to hunt down the $200 bucks she needs to secure her new home.

You can also see an influence from early Spike Lee joints too, that are heavily character driven, set within a vibrant community.

Kali is remarkable, particularly as she is in pretty much every shot of the film. But on top of that, she also co- directed with Angelique Molina and wrote the script with Molina and Roma Kong, both of who also appear in the film. And considering this is only her second go at directing, it all adds up to a truly impressive feat - by all those involved.

There’s also a nice touch by the costume department – quite possibly one person – with Danny wearing a shirt throughout featuring an obscure band Woo & the Clouds, who it transpires supplied tracks for the film, which is a nice touch.

And that’s the beauty of it, it’s a film full of nice touches, full of characters you instantly take a shine too, as we follow Danny on her plight.

I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking) is the perfect example of a low budget film exceeding far beyond expectations, that is superbly crafted, wonderfully acted, with all those behind it with a genuine love and passion for the film. And you can’t ask for more than that.