Genre:
Drama
Release Date: 10/15/2002
Run Time: 91 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Profanity
Distributor/Studio: Strand Home Video
Brendan Behan's famous memoir about his troubled youth formed the basis of this drama. Brendan (
Shawn Hatosy) is a 16-year-old boy from Ireland who loathes the British and is eager to do something about it. Brendan sails into Liverpool, but is discovered to be carrying the makings of a bomb; he's soon placed under arrest and thrown into a borstal (British reform school), where he finds himself surrounded by a collection of tough-as-nails English delinquents. While his political beliefs don't change, Brendan learns to become more tolerant of others as he makes friends with a few of his fellow inmates, including Charlie (
Danny Dyer), who dreams of sailing away some day, and Scottish Jock (
Robin Laing). Brendan also has to deal with the pains of first love when he becomes infatuated with Liz (
Eva Birthistle), the daughter of the school's master (
Michael York).
Borstal Boy marked the film debut of stage director
Peter Sheridan, the brother of noted Irish filmmaker
Jim Sheridan.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
