Poor Boy's Game (2007)

Donnie Rose went to prison for beating a young man so brutally it left him handicapped for life. Nine years later, Donnie is out. He's a different man with only one place to go: back home ... See full summary »

Director:

Clement Virgo

Writers:

Chaz Thorne, Clement Virgo

Stars:

Rossif Sutherland, Danny Glover, Flex Alexander

4 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rossif Sutherland	...	Donnie Rose
Danny Glover	...	George
Flex Alexander	...	Ossie Paris
Greg Bryk	...	Keith Rose
Laura Regan	...	Emma
Tonya Lee Williams	...	Ruth Carvery
Stephen McHattie	...	Uncle Joe
K.C. Collins	...	Charles Carvery
Hugh Thompson	...	Chris Webb
Dwain Murphy	...	Flipper
Wes Williams	...	Nathan
Jeremy Akerman	...	Mello
Carol Sinclair	...	Abigail
Lee J. Campbell	...	Cyril
Timothy Edmonds	...	Dillon

Storyline

Donnie Rose went to prison for beating a young man so brutally it left him handicapped for life. Nine years later, Donnie is out. He's a different man with only one place to go: back home to the same violent and racist neighborhood that created him. At the other end of town, the black community still wants revenge. The instrument of justice will be Ossie Paris, a devastatingly talented boxer who challenges Donnie to a match; a match Donnie's family and peers won't let him refuse. George Carvery has waited nine years to avenge his son's fate at the hands of Donnie. When finally they meet face to face, however, both realize they share a similar desire to overcome the past. As the barely contained racism boils to the surface, George and Donnie form a seemingly unlikely alliance. Their partnership makes them outcasts from both tribes, who will only be satisfied by blood in the ring. The two men get to know each other in the eye of a storm, knowing full well that their futures will be ...

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Plot Keywords:

prison | boxer | beating | racism | fight | 

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Taglines:

Divided by Hate. United by Violence. Driven by Honor.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, strong sexual content and some violent images

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

El último asalto

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Astral Media, Canadian Television Fund, Conquering Lion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rossif Sutherland's first lead role.

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Quotes

Keith Rose: [Brandishing a baseball bat] Hey! You looking to get your fucking skull cracked?

User Reviews

Both Sides of Forgiveness

POOR BOY'S GAME is a little film with a big message: hate can only be altered with forgiveness, remorse and redemption. The highly respected Jamaican director Clément Virgo (episodes on 'The Wire', 'The L Word', 'Soul Food', and films 'Love Comes Down', 'Lie With Me', etc) here takes on the tough subject of racism and the accompanying backlash of consequences and with co-writer Chaz Thorne produces a small but pungent film that touches many aspects of the schism between whites and blacks in the seemingly tranquil town of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Isolating the story in such an unlikely place serves to heighten the core problems the film addresses.

Donnie Rose (Rossif Sutherland) is released from prison, having served nine years for the brutal beating of Charles Carvery (K.C. Collins) which left the victim severely brain damaged. Upon release Donnie returns to his old neighborhood to live with his mother and find work as a security guard in a bar. Largely due to the bad influence of Donnie's belligerent and bigoted brother Keith (Greg Bryk), Donnie has to struggle with his family situation, trying to avoid the pain and guilt of his past while coping with his own dark secrets. His victim's father George (Danny Glover) stalks Donnie with the intent of killing him for the damage he has inflicted on both only his son and wife (Tonya Lee Williams), but the racial tension he encounters magnifies the underlying tragedy of the past - a factor both Donnie and George must face. Violence between the blacks and whites erupts and the resolution is to be decided in a boxing match between the superior boxer Ossie Paris (Flex Alexander) and Donnie. After a touching encounter following a tragedy, George and Donnie bond and George trains Donnie for the fight, the first sign of erasing racial tension. How the crucial fight preparations proceed and how the fight results from the resolution of the critical conflict that has eroded the town and these people forms the surprising closure of this story.

The cast is strong with the quiet lead from Danny Glover and the smoldering, conflicted Donnie by Rossif Sutherland, the fine young Canadian actor whose father is Donald Sutherland and whose half brother is Kiefer Sutherland. The film very quietly explores other conflicts, such as Donnie's sexual and emotional life with his black cell mate in prison, adding to the exploration of human behaviors that influence interpersonal schisms and barriers. This may be a low budget movie but it is a solid work well worth viewing. Grady Harp