Boy A (2007)

Director:

John Crowley

Writers:

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

Release Date:

4 September 2008 (Singapore)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Who Decides Who Gets A Second Chance?

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Identity | Murder | New Identity | Girl

Awards:

10 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

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
Katie Lyons	...	Michelle
James Young	...	Zeb
Anthony Lewis	...	Steve
John Catterall	...	Man in Club
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Shopkeeper
Philip Rowson	...	Policeman (as Phil Rowson)
Luke Broughton	...	Policeman
Paul-Michael Giblin	...	Photographer
Helen Wilding	...	Carol
Steven Pacey	...	Prosecution Barrister
Jared Garfield	...	Guy 1
Cyriack Stevenson	...	Council Officer
Tom Cottle	...	Reporter
Nathan Kershaw	...	Reporter
Josh Moran	...	Ticket Collector
Iris Sharples	...	Woman in Train
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin L. Evans	...	Dean (uncredited)
Jessica Mullins	...	Catherine Thompson (uncredited)

Directed by
John Crowley

Writing credits
Jonathan Trigell		(novel)
Mark O'Rowe		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sue Calverley	....	line producer
Tally Garner	....	producer
Lynn Horsford	....	producer
Liza Marshall	....	executive producer
Nick Marston	....	producer

Original Music by
Paddy Cunneen

Cinematography by
Rob Hardy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lucia Zucchetti

Casting by
Fiona Weir

Production Design by
Jon Henson

Art Direction by
Andrea Hughes

Set Decoration by
Anita Gupta
Robert Wischhusen-Hayes

Costume Design by
Julian Day

Makeup Department
Sarah Campbell	....	hair stylist
Sarah Campbell	....	makeup artist
Janet Horsfield	....	hair stylist
Janet Horsfield	....	makeup artist
Juliet Jackson	....	hair stylist
Juliet Jackson	....	makeup artist
Jessica Taylor	....	hair designer
Jessica Taylor	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Helen de Winter	....	post-production supervisor
Kevin Jackson	....	unit manager
Amanda Wasey	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laura Coggan-Hulmes	....	second assistant director (as Laura Coggan)
Gemma Nunn	....	third assistant director
Dan Winch	....	first assistant director
Jen Leng	....	additional third assistant director (uncredited)
Dominic Threlfall	....	additional third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Caroline Barclay	....	stand-by art director
Will Cann	....	prop hand
Gareth Cousins	....	assistant art director
David Ede	....	scenic artist
Neil Glynn	....	stand-by props
Patrick Henshaw	....	dressing props
Tony Henshaw	....	property master
Paul Mitchell	....	prop hand
Susan Ross	....	scenic artist
Kevin Smith	....	stand-by carpenter

Sound Department
Antonia Bates	....	dialogue editor
Owen Bleasdale	....	foley recordist editor
Paula Boram	....	foley artist
Paul Davies	....	supervising sound editor
Jim Greenhorn	....	sound mixer
Gareth Llewellyn	....	assistant sound mixer
Christine Morton	....	sound trainee
Chu Li Shewring	....	assistant sound editor (as Chu-Li Shewring)
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Andrew Stirk	....	sound re-recording mixer
Graeme Stoten	....	adr recordist
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
David Turner	....	sound project coordinator (as Dave Turner)
Justin Wilkinson	....	sound maintenance engineer
Thom Berryman	....	assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)
Thom Berryman	....	sound transfer engineer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Barney Jordan	....	visual effects: The Farm

Stunts
Gary Connery	....	stunt coordinator
Ben Cooke	....	stunt performer
Aldonio Danny Freitas	....	stunt performer (as Aldonio Freitas)
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator
Justin Pearson	....	stunt performer
Charles Ramsay	....	stunt performer (as Charlie Ramsey)
Andy Wareham	....	stunt performer
William Willoughby	....	stunt performer (as Will Willoughby)
Andy Wareham	....	stunt double: Boy A @ 17 (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richie Donnelly	....	focus puller
Steve Gartside	....	electrician
Richard Griffiths	....	grip
Lee Howarth	....	stand-by rigger
Tony Hughes	....	electrician
Ian Jackson	....	rigging gaffer
Wayne Mansell	....	generator operator
Ed Miller	....	still photographer
Daniel Nightingale	....	camera assistant (as Dan Nightingale)
Daniel Nightingale	....	camera trainee (as Dan Nightingale)
Matilda Smith	....	clapper loader
Laurie Sparham	....	still photographer
John Taylor	....	Steadicam operator
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
William Tracey	....	gaffer
Anthony Ward	....	grip
David Williamson	....	video playback operator

Casting Department
Alice Searby	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shahida Day	....	costume supervisor (as Shaida Day)
Victoria Lambe	....	costume trainee
Jane Marcantonio	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Tonia Cohen	....	negative checker: Reel Skill Film Cutting
Andrew Dearnley	....	digital film supervisor
Ian Dood	....	digital intermediate director of production: The Farm
Aidan Farrell	....	colorist: The Farm
Marya Goga	....	editorial administrator: Channel Four
Clyde Kellett	....	on-line editor
David Klafkowski	....	digital intermediate technical director: The Farm
Justin Lanchbury	....	film transfer consultant
Alan Pritt	....	film transfer coordinator
Fiona DeSouza	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Simon Allen	....	musician
Arthur Dick	....	musician
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor
Paul Higgs	....	musician
Steve Parr	....	music re-recording mixer
Joe Townshend	....	musician

Transportation Department
Dave Armforth	....	driver: makeup truck
Andrew Devlin	....	driver: costume truck
Matt Evans	....	driver: camera truck
Craig Humphries	....	transportation captain
Martin Koen	....	driver: prop

Other crew
James Armitage	....	legal services: Lee & Thompson
Andrew Braithwaite	....	paramedic
Marianne P. Buckland	....	legal and compliance: Channel Four
Andrew Buglass	....	floor runner
Stephen Cheers	....	location scout
Julie Clyne	....	paramedic
Marti Consibee	....	chef
Anna Davis	....	finance director: Cuba Pictures
Craig Dickson	....	head of legal: Cuba Pictures
Jeremy Gawade	....	legal services: Lee & Thompson
Tammy Gouldesbrough	....	chaperone
Claire Harrison	....	assistant accountant
Elaine Harrison	....	production accountant
Julie Hodgson	....	chaperone
Rachel Jones	....	production secretary
Valerie Jones	....	chaperone
John Kerron	....	title designer: The Farm
Helene Lenszner	....	location manager
Colin Lewin	....	finance director: Cuba Pictures
Shelley Love	....	choreographer
Paul McCallister	....	clips: Channel Four
Bronwyn McConville	....	assistant to commercial affairs: Channel Four
Sarah McWhinney	....	finance director: Cuba Pictures
Alison Morrison	....	chef
James Muirhead	....	location scout
Claire Newton	....	assistant location manager
Rebecca O'Connor	....	commercial affairs: Channel Four
Claire Oakley	....	assistant: John Crowley
Tracey Pearce	....	chaperone
Natasha Pilbrow	....	legal services: Lee & Thompson
Sue Bruce Smith	....	commercial development: Channel Four, Film4 (as Sue Bruce-Smith)
Hilary Stewart	....	commercial affairs: Channel Four
Emma Thomas	....	script supervisor
Selina Ukwuoma	....	finance director: Cuba Pictures
Kathryn Williams	....	head of commercial affairs: Channel Four
Jenny Winston	....	runner

Production Companies

• Cuba Pictures
• Film Four (production company)

Distributors

• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• ABC Distribution (2008) (Belgium) (all media)
• Channel Four (2007) (UK) (TV)
• Cine Qua Non Films (2008) (Japan) (all media)
• Cinemien (2008) (Luxembourg) (all media)
• Cinemien (2008) (Netherlands) (all media)
• Future Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (all media)
• Homescreen (2009) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Midget Entertainment (2009) (Denmark) (all media)
• Motion Picture Distribution (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Noble Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (all media)
• Pyramide Distribution (2009) (France) (all media)
• Senator Film (2008) (Germany) (all media)
• Sundream Motion Pictures (2008) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting supplies
• ARRI Media  camera and grip equipment
• Action Cars  cars
• All England Caterers  catering
• Bickers Action Vehicles  low loader (as Bickers Action)
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• EPL  cherry picker
• EuroKids & Adults International Casting and Model Agency  extras casting
• Farm Group, The  digital intermediate (as The Farm)
• Fujifilm  camera stock
• Gadbury Casting  extras casting
• HSC  facility vehicles
• Hear No Evil Studios  music re-recording facilities (as Hear No Evil)
• Lee & Thompson  legal services
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Niche Casting Agency  extras casting
• Offline Editing Co.  editing equipment (as Offline Editing)
• Prestige Chauffeur Services  unit cars
• Reel Skill Film Cutting  negative cutting
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Shoot NI  walkies
• That's a Wrap! Craft Service & Catering  camera consumables (as That's a Wrap)
• Videosonics Cinema Sound  sound re-recording (as Videosonics)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:11 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Cuba Pictures

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 (2012).

Quotes:

Michelle:[at Jack's photo] Look at you, so cute!

Movie Connections:

Features Fever Pitch (1997)

Soundtrack:

The Warning

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?"