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The Drowning of Arthur Braxton

  • 2021
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
169
YOUR RATING
James Tarpey and Rebecca Hanssen in The Drowning of Arthur Braxton (2021)
The girl of his dreams won't come out of the pool and he's forgotten his trunks.
Play trailer1:54
1 Video
5 Photos
Drama

The girl of his dreams won't come out of the pool and he's forgotten his trunks.The girl of his dreams won't come out of the pool and he's forgotten his trunks.The girl of his dreams won't come out of the pool and he's forgotten his trunks.

  • Director
    • Luke Cutforth
  • Writers
    • Luke Cutforth
    • Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
    • Caroline Smailes
  • Stars
    • James Tarpey
    • Johnny Vegas
    • Rebecca Hanssen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    169
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Luke Cutforth
    • Writers
      • Luke Cutforth
      • Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
      • Caroline Smailes
    • Stars
      • James Tarpey
      • Johnny Vegas
      • Rebecca Hanssen
    • 7User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:54
    Official Trailer

    Photos4

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    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast29

    Edit
    James Tarpey
    • Arthur Braxton Jr.
    Johnny Vegas
    Johnny Vegas
    • Arthur Braxton Sr.
    Rebecca Hanssen
    Rebecca Hanssen
    • Delphina
    Malcolm Freeman
    • Silver
    Sophie Wright
    • Laurel
    Keith Rice
    • Tommy Clarke
    Ben Hawkey
    Ben Hawkey
    • Cliff
    Caroline Partridge
    Caroline Partridge
    • Mrs. Newwood
    Toby Williams
    Toby Williams
    • Mr. Worrell
    Nisa Cole
    Nisa Cole
    • Estelle Jarvis
    Lin Sagovsky
    • Nurse Foyle
    Kirstie Shapiro
    • Isobel Braxton
    Paul Dewdney
    Paul Dewdney
    • Eric the Builder
    Sam Jackson
    • Adam the Apprentice
    Dominic Creasey
    • James the Sacrifice
    • (as Domonic Creasey)
    Lizi Camsell
    • Girl
    • (as Elizabeth Susan Camsell)
    Willy Bish
    • TV & Radio
    • (voice)
    John Burrell
    • Social Worker
    • Director
      • Luke Cutforth
    • Writers
      • Luke Cutforth
      • Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
      • Caroline Smailes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    5.8169
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    Featured reviews

    10xMiaBear

    Heartwarming, Real and Brilliant!

    The Drowning of Arthur Braxton (based on the book by Caroline Smailes) is a film I first found out about around five years ago and backed on Kickstarter! I avidly followed each update, awaiting the day director Luke Cutforth would announce the release of the film and was not disappointed when it finally happened!

    Winner of Best UK Feature at the 2021 Raindance Film Festival, The Drowning of Arthur Braxton is best summed up by director Luke Cutforth: "An unflinching account of the pain of adolescence and how first love can transform the most unhappy of lives into something miraculous."

    The Drowning of Arthur Braxton centres around the life of a teenage boy, Arthur Braxton (James Tarpey). Arthur is relentlessly bullied at school whilst dealing with the challenges of being a young carer for his alcoholic depressive father (Johnny Vegas). Along the way, a siren song leads him to discover Delphina (Rebecca Hanssen) swimming in an abandoned bath house that's scheduled for demolition. Arthur's life starts to spiral dangerously out of control and Delphina becomes his escape. There's something mystical at play.

    Luke and his team captured the essence of the book perfectly, blending the real world experiences with the fantastical. Born out of a lot of love, dedication and hard work, the film is a definite must see which I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone!
    6CinemaSerf

    The Drowning of Arthur Braxton

    James Tarpey is quite good as the eponymous young man in this slightly super-natural drama. Bullied at school and largely ignored by his dipsomaniac dad (Johnny Vegas) at home, he seeks solace (and safety) in a disused public swimming baths. It is here that he encounters the young "Laurel" (Sophie Wright) and "Delphina" (Rebecca Hanssen). Neither girl will ever get out of the water nor can he get in! As he becomes a regular visitor, he gradually falls for "Delphina" but is all as it seems? Malcolm Freeman's "Mr. Silver" is also a regular at the pool, but what is he doing there - and what hold has he over the swimmers? Vegas is also good as the negligent father and as the story gently unfolds, it has a simplicity - young love - to it. The ending isn't maybe the best, the story does tend to dart about a bit, but it cannot have had much of a budget and Luke Cutforth manages to develop just enough of the characterisations to keep it interesting. Maybe "Arthur" ought to have invested in a pair of Speedos?
    3krisztinaobrien

    Its not surreal its utter nonsense

    This is one of those that keep you waiting that something will happen. Bad script even worse directing done by the same person Luke Cutforth.

    James Tarpey who plays Arthur Braxton is too good for this film.

    I suspect this was Cutforth first realisation because he spends half the movie focusing on Tarpey, and his teen misery being bullied.

    Cutforth next realisation must be the fact, that a good actor itself doesn't make a good story so he introduces a girl, without much personality or even a body (a fin would just be such a cliche! Wouldn't it?) a love story without conversations or chemistry (unless swimming lessons turn you on) and a mystery that makes absolute no sense.

    He must have hoped that the disjointed, fragmented events and undeveloped characters together somehow will make sense, bringing meaning and conclusion to the film. Or if not, at least it will make this film an indie art movie by leaving the audience guessing.

    I am not spoiling anything if i say that the film indeed left me guessing. If Cutforth had ben better to become a train driver?
    1martinfrankcom

    Pretentious tosh...

    Dear oh dear! Very disappointing indeed. This film really doesn't know what it wants to be - one minute it's all teenage angst, then it's coming of age, modern mystery, Victorian ghost melodrama, morality lesson about the dangers of drink... and probably a few more besides. It starts confusing and ends just as bad - the key character and hiss arch protagonist suddenly change attitudes 180 degrees but it is never properly explained why. Despite the negatives though I must say it was well cast, well shot and well directed - it's the story line which lets it down so badly. About the only thing I enjoyed were the location shots in the old, abandoned swimming baths which I believe to be in Manchester - I well remember learning to swim in a near identical baths in Bury.
    7danieljfarthing

    A fresh, engaging & original Brit-drama tinged with surreal & supernatural elements that doesn't quite tie up all it's threads.

    In surreal / supernatural tinged Brit-drama "The Drowning Of Arthur Braxton" miserable titular teen James Tarpey (terrific) is bullied at school (by Keith Rice & Ben Hawkey) & neglected at home (by alcoholic single slob dad Johnny Vegas). His only solace is an abandoned old public baths building (set for demolition) where he meets girl 'ghosts' Sophie Wright & Rebecca Hanssen (falling for the latter) and their 'dad' Malcolm Freeman... but is something sinister behind the girls, Freeman and/or the building? Director / co-writer (with Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou) Luke Cutforth doesn't wrap it up totally satisfactorily, but it's still a fresh, engaging & original tale.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Taking about a week to film, the school scenes were shot at Gloucester's Churchdown School Academy.
    • Quotes

      Arthur Braxton: One day soon, you'll meet me outside and we'll dance like twats in the rain.

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    FAQ15

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 2022 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Who Is Arthur?
    • Filming locations
      • Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Longsight, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK(The Oracle)
    • Production companies
      • Fireflight Film
      • Fireflight
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1
      • 2.35 : 1(original release)

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