Borstal Boy (2000)

Irish writer and political activist Brendan Behan, is befriended as a teenager in a British labor camp by a liberal warden.

Director:

Peter Sheridan

Writers:

Brendan Behan (book), Nye Heron

Stars:

Shawn Hatosy, Danny Dyer, Eamon Glancy

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shawn Hatosy	...	Brendan Behan
Eamon Glancy	...	Manning
Ian McElhinney	...	Verreker
Patricia Leventon	...	Landlady
Danny Dyer	...	Charlie Milwall
Dennis Conway	...	Holmes
John O'Toole	...	Whitbread
Luke Hayden	...	Alex
Lee Ingleby	...	Dale
Brian de Salvo	...	Judge Goddard
Jer O'Leary	...	Republican in Court
Joe Taylor	...	Mortimer
Eoin Slattery	...	James
Mark Huberman	...	Mac
Tony Coleman	...	Cragg

Storyline

Brendan Behan, a sixteen year-old republican, is going on a bombing mission from Ireland to Liverpool during the second world war. His mission is thwarted when he is apprehended, charged and imprisoned in Borstal, a reform institution for young offenders in East Anglia, England. At Borstal, Brendan is forced to live face-to-face with those he perceived as "the enemy," a confrontation that reveals a deep inner conflict in the young Brendan and forces a self-examination that is both traumatic and revealing. Events take an unexpected turn and Brendan is thrown into a complete spin. In the emotional vortex, he finally faces up to the truth.

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Plot Keywords:

train station | breaking down a door | borstal | writer | irish | 

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Taglines:

In 1942, acclaimed Irish poet Brendan Behan was sent to a reform school. What he learned was that love knows no prison.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Broadway production of "Borstal Boy" based on a book by Brendan Behan and adapted for the stage by Frank McMahon opened at the Lyceum Theater in New York on March 31, 1970, ran for 143 performances and won the 1970 Tony Award for Best play.

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Goofs

When Brendan arrives in Liverpool (which is actually London in the movie) he is passed by a London Transport Routemaster bus, a type which did not appear until 1958, though the movie is set in 1942.

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Quotes

[Repeated Line]
Brendan Behan: As a prisoner of war, it is my duty to escape.

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Connections

Featured in Insight Into the Borstal Boy (2000)

User Reviews

Seen at Galway Film Fleadh/Excellent Film/Great Performances

Seen at the Galway Film Fleadh (where this fine picture had its world premiere in July), Peter Sheridan makes an auspicious directing debut from this literary classic. It should be noted, however, that the film is "inspired by" not "based upon" the book by Brendan Behan. Wonderful performances from the entire cast including Hatosy, York,Dyer and Birthistle.

Details

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

8 December 2000 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Um Jovem Irlandês

Filming Locations:

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,164, 3 March 2002

Gross USA:

$87,400

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$87,400

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), Bórd Scannán na hÉireann

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1