A Boy Called Dad (2009)

When he becomes a father at the tender age of 14, Robbie's life quickly spirals out of control. Feeling angry and neglected by his own dad, he kick-starts a series of events that will ... See full summary »

Director:

Brian Percival

Writer:

Julie Rutterford

Stars:

Kyle Ward, Ian Hart, Louise Delamere

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kyle Ward	...	Robbie
Ian Hart	...	Joe
Charlene McKenna	...	Nia
Sacha Parkinson	...	Leanne
Louise Delamere	...	Lynda
Steve Evets	...	Mr. Whippy
Lee Turnbull	...	Stevie
Kevin Harvey	...	Mr. Skinner
Crissy Rock	...	Chip Shop Woman
Sam Webb	...	Young Robbie (as Samuel Webb)
Sienna Jones	...	Newborn Baby Elliot
Mille Wortley	...	Elliot
Faith Wortley	...	Elliot
Joel Robinson	...	Elliot
Alan Stocks	...	Bill the Bookie

Storyline

When he becomes a father at the tender age of 14, Robbie's life quickly spirals out of control. Feeling angry and neglected by his own dad, he kick-starts a series of events that will catapult him at great speed into adulthood.

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Plot Keywords:

under age sex | youthful father | birth of baby boy | gunshot victim | kidnapped baby | 

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Taglines:

"All I ever wanted was a dad. Instead I got a son..."

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene with Kyle Ward driving the car was filmed in Giltbrook Industrial Park. It was a hatchback car; the rear parcel shelf was removed and two or three crew members were crammed in the back with a big boom mike and with a small amount of camera and sound equipment. The car was stationary, as Kyle Ward wasn't old enough to drive. Crew members stood around the car, gently bouncing it up and down to give the appearance of the car being driven. Two crew members used waving boards to make the cloud shadows appear and disappear from the outside surface of the car.

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Quotes

Robbie: [Gagging while changing a diaper] Fucking hell. What she feed ya?

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Soundtracks

Walk Tall
(uncredited)
Written by Val Doonican
Performed by Ian Hart

User Reviews

Director of Downton Abbey encroaches onto Ken Loach's territory....

For those who praised both the directing and writing of A Boy Called Dad might like to know that Brian Percival (who directed the multi-award winning ITV drama 'Downton Abbey') won a BAFTA along with screenwriter Julie Rutherford. That was a short, About A Girl, in 2001.

This re-teaming in 2009, a small £1million budget and a welcome star name of Ian Hart have produced a modest little gem of a Brit movie, filmed in Liverpool and north Wales. A Boy Called Dad stars 14 y.o. Kyle Ward, a natural and fine performance (though according to IMDb, hasn't been in anything since) from a lad who has a one night stand - and then fatherhood. The mother of the child has little contact with Robbie (Ward) and lives separately.

Enter jack-the-lad Robbie's Dad, a cheeky Liverpudlian with a VW pickup. He left Robbie and his mother some years before and says that he had moved to Ireland, when he had in fact, not. Robbie, after some reacquainting and bonding with his Dad, feels rejected and goes off the rails, kidnaps his own son and makes off in a car.

The film does have its moments of action, bursts of anger and a lot of quiet moments of contemplation and emotion. It won't suit everyone, though its very humanity should appeal to us all. It's whether we choose to actually sit down and watch it rather than something more gimmicky and instantly gratifying. It's not a great movie, but a good one.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Baba Denen Çocuk

Filming Locations:

Wirral, Merseyside, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Made Up North Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color