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Director
Peter Sheridan
Credits
Producers: Nye Heron, Arthur Lappin, Pat Moylan. Writers: Brendan Behan, Nye Heron, Peter Sheridan
Principal Cast
Shawn Hatosy, Danny Dyer, Eva Birthistle, Michael York
Category
FeatureLiterature
A stirring drama adapted from Brendan Behan’s autobiographical novel, Borstal Boy depicts Behan’s (Shawn Hatosy) time spent in a British reform school for young men– a borstal – during World War II. Imprisoned for smuggling dynamite to England as part of an IRA plot, Behan is found to be too young for execution and is instead detained, whereupon he meets Charlie (Danny Dyer), a gay man and member of the British navy. Behan’s nationalism commands him to reject Charlie’s friendship, but in the close quarters of the prison these barriers break down and Behan’s feelings for Charlie develop. Behan’s hatred is worn down too by Liz Joyce (Eva Birthistle), the daughter of the borstal’s warden and a painter whose sentiments appeal to the Irishman. This theme of common humanity is central, and director Peter Sheridan crafts around it a meaningful tale about people crossing the divides they have set up between one another.
93 minutes, Ireland/UK, 2000, Colour
ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH 13:30, 18:30 (Q&A)
BALTIMORE 16:00
IO CAPITANO 20:30
JEANNE DU BARRY 15:50, 20:45
ON THE WATERFRONT 70TH ANNIVERSARY 13:40
PERFECT DAYS 13:00, 18:00
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE 15:40, 20:55
THE ZONE OF INTEREST 18:10
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