A Sense of Freedom (1979)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

John Mackenzie

Writers:

Jimmy Boyle (book)
Peter McDougall (writer)

Release Date:

18 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Criminal | 1970s | Excrement | Sick | Convict

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

David Anderson	...	Tam
Bill Armour	...	Prison warder
Bill Barclay	...	Bill
Martin Black	...	Bobbie Dugan
Jim Boyce	...	Sgt. Bobbie
Monica Brady	...	Sheila
Jim Byars	...	PC Green
Vince Cunningham	...	News vendor
Jake D'Arcy	...	Robbie
Scott Douglas	...	Desk sergeant
Ken Drury	...	Prison warder
Jackie Farrell	...	Prison warder
Myra Forsyth	...	Mrs. Johnson
Kate Gardiner	...	Boyle´s mother
Jim Gibb	...	Gus
Roy Hanlon	...	Chief officer
David Hayman	...	Jimmy Boyle
Billy Jeffrey	...	Archie
Paul Kermack	...	Prison doctor
James Macdonald	...	Sergeant
Fulton Mackay	...	Insp. Davidson
Lesley Mackie	...	Malkie´s wife
Hugh Martin	...	Prison governor
Jimmy Martin	...	Mr. Doherty
John McGlynn	...	Prison warder
Bruce McKenzie	...	Hospital doctor
George Morgan	...	Priest
P.H. Moriarty	...	Prison warder
John Murtagh	...	Piper
Anne Myatt	...	Tam's wife
Hector Nicol	...	Uncle Jody
Alex Norton	...	Malkie
Jeff Norton	...	Prison warder
Ron Paterson	...	Prison governor
Billy Riddoch	...	Fisherman (as Bill Riddoch)
Gaylie Runciman	...	Sadie
Sean Scanlan	...	Jackie
Farrell Sheridan	...	Prison warder
Gerry Slevin	...	Prison governor
John Stahl	...	Det. Sgt. Williamson
David Stewart	...	Judge
Irene Sunters	...	Agnes
Gordon Taylor	...	Prison warder
Frank Welshman	...	Barman
Alexander West	...	Ben
Jan Wilson	...	Mrs. Docherty
Jimmy Yuill	...	Dunkie

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16

Company:

HandMade Films

Amazing Bio Film

I became aware of this last November whilst studying British TV Drama in University. I was immediately sucked into the world of Jimmy Boyle. He is to me a fascinating figure. I do not believe in giving criminals a celebrity platform and his criminal activities hold very little interest for me. What does captivate me is his persona and his talent as a sculptor. This man is made of cast iron strong will. This film perfectly captures this and it does it in a way that after 1 Hour and 30 minutes you believe to know the real Jimmy Boyle.

Written by native Glasweigian Peter McDougal & directed by long time collaborator and fellow Scotch Scot John MacKenzie we are transported into 1960's Glasgow. We are made vulnerable to society that Jimmy Boyle has grown up in. He is from a deprived working class tenement and we become very aware that he makes a living through his menace. The story is set by presenting him in this light. We move very quickly his life on the outside. Also during this time we also see the good side of Jimmy Boyle. He is well liked and he will give money to the neighborhood kids whose parents wouldn't have money.

He finally gets sent down for murder and this is when the film really begins. In Boyles own words he began making his own rules up. He was not reacting so much against the prison system and incarceration but he was reacting to the treatment of prisoners. He feels violated by the staff because he is nothing more than an animal to them and that is the way he treated. His strong will is displayed by the harsh beatings he receives and the amount of time he spends in solitary confinement. During this time we see him evolve psychologically he repeats his name so that he can remember who he is. He contemplates suicide all these scenes are extremely powerful and are very well acted by David Hayman.

Hayman is very believable as Jimmy Boyle. His face acting certainly portrays the characters thoughts and emotional turmoil. He is in my opinion a very fine actor and very consistent in everything I have seen him in. Another mention I will give is to the cinematographer Chris Menges who is surely a master of his craft. he has worked with best directors in England and America in his time and it is obvious that his skill of capturing and presenting moving images is up their with Conrad L. Hall and Robert Richardson.

Like it or loathe it A sense of freedom should be watched by any budding film makers (actors,writers,directors). Certainly one of Scotlands finest film exports ever.