Boy A
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Boy A |
| Original title | Boy A |
| Country of production | Great Britain |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2007 |
| length | 100 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Crowley |
| script | Mark O'Rowe |
| production | Lynn Horsford |
| music | Paddy Cunneen |
| camera | Rob Hardy |
| cut | Lucia Zucchetti |
| occupation | |
| |
Boy A is a 2007 British film about a young man who committed murder as a child and is now released from prison to start a new life with a different identity. Director John Crowley's film revolves around the topics of social rehabilitation , guilt and identity , but also sensational journalism . Andrew Garfield stars in the lead , alongside Peter Mullan and Katie Lyons .
The title of the film is a cover name given to underage offenders in some countries because their real identity is not intended to be revealed to the public. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Trigell , which, like the film, has several parallels to the murder of James Bulger .
action
Manchester : Eric Wilson talks to his supervisor Terry about his new life: from now on his name is Jack Burridge. Together with Terry he rents an apartment, opens an account and takes a job in a logistics company. He cannot find his way around the world because as a 10-year-old he went to prison for 14 years . At work, the introverted Jack meets the pretty office worker Michelle and gets closer to her in the days that follow.
In the meantime, the story of the murder is told in flashbacks . Jack's maiden name is Eric. As a 10-year-old, Eric made friends with Phillip, a boy of the same age who, unlike Eric, is not easily intimidated, but also defends himself with his fists, steals and is generally prone to crime. He told Phillip that he was sexually abused several times by his older brother . Eric's mother found out about her fatal cancer at the time. The murder that Eric and Phillip committed while gambling happened for no particular reason. The murder victim was a girl of the same age from their school, who spoke to them about vandalism , called them anti-social and insulted them. Phillip injured the girl on the arms with the box knife and dragged her under a bridge. Eric picked up the knife and followed them. Who killed the girl remains unclear. Phillip died in prison. Jack believes Phillip was killed by other inmates and eventually hanged to make it look like a suicide.
In the present, Jack and Michelle fall seriously in love. Jack and his best and only friend and colleague Chris accidentally witness a car accident and save a little girl's life. As a result, the two get attention in the local press. This and the positive development of Jack's rehabilitation makes Terry very proud of Jack and himself. Terry's own son visits his father again after a long separation and lives with him temporarily. Terry criticizes him for having no work, no friends, hanging out at home too much and drinking alcohol. Terry's son finds out who Jack really is through some statements from his father and through a search of his files and computer and informs the press about it. He acts out of jealousy because his father apparently values Jack more than himself. As a result, Jack loses his job and Chris wants nothing more to do with him. In addition, Michelle no longer shows up for work, Jack cannot reach her. Chris suspects that Jack could have done something to her, but she has just retired to her apartment and struggles with the revelation about Jack / Eric.
When the press learns of Jack's real identity, they besieged his apartment. Jack is afraid of being lynched because there is a reward on his head on the internet. Terry's only answering machine is available. Jack flees over the roof from the reporters lurking outside his front door, injures his leg, and takes the train to the Blackpool coast . There he meets Michelle for the last time and they say goodbye - Jack probably just imagines this last conversation with her in his head. Jack then leaves Terry and Chris a goodbye on the answering machine. The film ends with Jack standing on the pier and apparently wanting to take his own life.
Soundtracks
| No. | title | Interpreter |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | With every heartbeat | Kleerup feat. Robyn |
| 2. | Drop the pressure | Mylo |
| 3. | Sexiest Man In Jamaica | Mint Royale |
| 4th | Floor basics | Mint Royale |
| 5. | Princess | Mint Royale |
| 6th | The Warning | Hot chip |
Reviews
- "Andrew Garfield in a role that at least justifies his career [...] with short, efficient brushstrokes from a confident directing hand" ( Chris Barsanti : Film Journal International)
- “Mullan's Scottish is hard to understand. […] But I never had any problems with it, he is such a great actor […] He and Garfield get together well - both with immediately friendly faces, both with charm, both with warmth. "( Roger Ebert )
- "Honest and empathetic" (IFC.com)
Awards
- BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor for Andrew Garfield
- BAFTA TV Award in the Best Director - Fiction / Entertainment category for John Crowley
- BAFTA TV Award in the Best Editing - Fiction / Entertainment category for Lucia Zucchetti
- BAFTA TV Award in the Best Photography and Lighting - Fiction / Entertainment category for Rob Hardy
- Ecumenical Jury Prize in the Panorama category for John Crowley
- Dinard British Film Festival 2008
- Best Screenplay Award for Mark O'Rowe
- Golden Hitchcock for John Crowley
- Kodak Award for Best Cinematography for Rob Hardy
- Silver Hitchcock for John Crowley
Web links
- A boy in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Matt Connolly: Boy A in Reverse Shot # 22
- Cynthia Fuchs: Boy A in PopMatters (English)
- Boy A - Film of the Month May 2009 at kinofenster.de, ed. from the Federal Agency for Civic Education and Vision Cinema .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Chris Barsanti: BOY A. In: Film Journal International. Retrieved on March 18, 2009 (English): "Andrew Garfield [...], who turns in nothing less than a career-making performance [...] In short, efficient strokes and with a sure directorial hand"
- ↑ Roger Ebert : Boy A. In: rogerebert.suntimes.com. August 7, 2008, accessed on March 18, 2009 (English, 3.5 / 4): “Mullen's [sic] Scottish the hardest to understand. [...] I've never had a problem with his speech, because he is such a great actor [...] He and Garfield fit well together - both have faces you like on first sight, both have charm, both have warmth "
- ↑ Michael Atkinson: "Boy A," "The Unforeseen". (No longer available online.) In: www.ifc.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009 ; accessed on March 18, 2009 (English): "honest, empathetic" Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
