The life and imprisonment of Glasgow hard man and gangster Jimmy Boyle.
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Title: A Sense of Freedom (1979)
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1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| David Hayman | ... |
Jimmy Boyle
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Jake D'Arcy | ... |
Robbie
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Sean Scanlan | ... |
Jackie
(as Sean Scanlon)
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| Alex Norton | ... |
Malkie
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John Murtagh | ... |
Piper
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Roy Hanlon | ... |
Chief Officer
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Martin Black | ... |
Bobbie Dugan
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| Fulton Mackay | ... |
Inspector Davidson
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Hector Nicol | ... |
Uncle Jody
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Bill Barclay | ... |
Bill
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Alexander West | ... |
Ben
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Lesley Mackie | ... |
Malkie's Wife
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Frank Welshman | ... |
Barman
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Kate Gardiner | ... |
Boyle's Mother
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Jan Wilson | ... |
Mrs. Docherty
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Storyline
The life and imprisonment of Glasgow hard man and gangster Jimmy Boyle.
Plot Keywords:
mercilessness | physical abuse | vomiting | violence | strait jacket |Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
18 October 1985 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Katkera matka vapauteen See more »Company Credits
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Peter McDougall, British televisions most unfllinching writer, skilfully avoids making this a message-movie or an adaptation in a traditional sense. It is partly fictionalised, as it is not a story about criminality, it is about Boyle, a man with a will of iron who defies all society's attempts to dispose of him, and eventually reforms through compliance not defiance. David Hayman is very convincing and there's a wonderful cameo from Hector Nichol as a gatecrasher at a party. The violence is noticeably a long time coming. McDougall never needs to throw as many shocks in as possible, but brings in whatever is needed when it is needed. The icing on the cake is Frankie Miller's score and John McKenzie again showing he can film violence more truthfully than any other director. Wonderfully honest for STV, the emotion reaches more grim levels than McDougall's previous BBC works. Hayman plays the death of his mother and his contemplation of suicide beautifully, but most impressive is his curled up, wounded animal figure on the cell floor saying his name over and over again. This is the way to make a television film.