Boy A (2007)

The story of a young ex-con Jack, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a murder he committed as a child.

Director:

John Crowley

Writers:

Jonathan Trigell (novel), Mark O'Rowe (screenplay)

Stars:

Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Siobhan Finneran

10 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew Garfield	...	Jack Burridge
Peter Mullan	...	Terry
Siobhan Finneran	...	Kelly
Alfie Owen	...	Eric Wilson
Victoria Brazier	...	Teacher
Skye Bennett	...	Angela
Madeleine Rakic-Platt	...	Schoolgirl
Josef Altin	...	Bully
Dudley Brewis	...	2nd Bully
Leigh Symonds	...	Eric's Dad
Maria Gough	...	Eric's Mum
Taylor Doherty	...	Philip Craig
Jeremy Swift	...	Dave
Shaun Evans	...	Chris
Carlene Hanson	...	Waitress

Storyline

A young man is released from prison after many years and given a new identity in a new town. Aided by a supervisor who becomes like a father to him he finds a job and friends and hesitantly starts a relationship with a compassionate girl. But the secret of the heinous crime he committed as a boy weighs down on him, and he learns that it is not so easy to escape your past.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | identity | murder | new identity | girl | 

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Taglines:

Who Decides Who Gets A Second Chance?

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexuality, some disturbing content and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 2008 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

A Rapaz

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$13,024 (USA) (25 July 2008)

Gross:

$106,368 (USA) (22 August 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cuba Pictures, Film Four

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a retrospective scene young Eric and his friend Philip are walking around impersonating Spider-Man shooting web and swinging along the street. Andrew Garfield, the actor playing old Eric/ Jack, is Peter Parker/Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man.

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Quotes

Michelle: [showing her breast posing to Jack's photograph] What?
Jack Burridge: [laughing] You're fucking nuts. Carry on. Keep going! Keep going! Keep going!

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Connections

References Lost (2004)

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Soundtracks

"With Every Heartbeat"
Performed by Kleerup feat. Robyn

User Reviews

A hard film to watch that rewards those that do

We have all came across the stories and events of young children committing terrible crimes. They must be evil and need to be locked away as they are clearly not the same as you and me are they? Well what if they were the same, only they had a moment of madness, a moment that they did without thinking when they were young enough to know it was wrong but not too fully realise the full extent of their actions? This film does what all great films do, it educates and opens your eyes and mind to new on suggestions, in a sense it widens your experiences. If you really let it this film will get into your head and cause you to fight with your preconceived ideas on punishment for people or whether they deserve forgiveness.

This is a great film, I really liked it but I felt uncomfortable during most of it because I knew deep down it was just asking me a question. I know what the lead character did is wrong, I know he was a child when he did it, but now you see him in a new life, touching other people's lives. The film does have an ending for you but this is not the point of the film. The really ending is in your head and it stays with you, "are you are willing to forgive someone like Jack?"