“We can’t go on like this,” Sandra (Clare Dunne), a struggling single mother of two, says in the trailer for Phyllida Lloyd’s new film, “Herself.” In need of new accommodations for herself and her daughters, frustrated by the housing crisis, working several jobs, and contending with an abusive ex, she decides to take matters into her own hands and build a home of her own.

With some research, she finds she can build a house for about 35,000 euros. The land comes courtesy of Peggy (Harriet Walter), the brusque but warm woman Sandra cleans for, and friends and family help out during construction.

The hitch comes when Sandra’s ex, Gary (Ian Lloyd Anderson), sues for custody of their children. But she doesn’t stop fighting. “You all know what he did to me,” she says in court. “And yet you still bring me in here, and you ask me questions like ‘Why didn’t you leave him?’ but you never ask, ‘Why didn’t he stop?'”

Dunne wrote “Herself” with Malcolm Campbell. It marks the stage actress’ first leading role in a feature. She previously worked with Lloyd when the latter directed an all-women production of “Henry IV.” Dunne’s other stage credits include “The Playboy of the Western World” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“Mamma Mia!” and “The Iron Lady” are among Lloyd’s directing credits. She’s also helmed stage productions “Tina,” “Julius Caesar,” and “The Tempest.”

Produced by “Catastrophe’s” Sharon Horgan, “Herself” has screened at Sundance and BFI London Film Fest. The drama earned Lloyd the Human Rights Film Award and Dunne the Michael Dwyer Discovery prize at the Dublin International Film Festival.

“Herself” opens in select theaters December 30 and launches on Amazon Prime Video January 8.