Wow.

I watched one of my favourite films last night. 'Boy A', starring Andrew Garfield and based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Trigell, is a beautiful piece of cinema that still remains relatively unknown. It is one of those films that I always recommend to my friends to watch, and they always come back to me saying exactly the same thing; they loved it, but it made them really question their beliefs on the subject matter.


Andrew Garfield gives one of the best performances I've ever seen as Jack Burridge

For those unfamiliar with the film, directed by John Crowley, it follows the story of Eric Wilson (played by Garfield); or 'Jack Burridge', as he is now known. Eric is released from prison and given his new identity, and with the help of his guidance counsellor attempts to reintegrate himself back into society. It is revealed through flashbacks why he was in the prison in the first place - as a young pre-teen boy, he played some role in the brutal attack and murder of a female classmate. While his friend Philip was also incarcerated, we find out that he would go on to kill himself in prison.

You don't ever want to feel sympathy for someone capable of the murder of a child, but when the killer is just a child them self, it does get more complicated. Add to this that we are only ever shown Eric as a vulnerable, quiet young boy who just seems to have fallen in with the wrong crowd by befriending Philip, and you've got yourself a heartbreaking story of Burridge's life after prison. The film explores Burridge's post-prison life through his job, friendships and forging of a new relationship, all the while under the watchful eye of his counsellor (played by Peter Mullan). The similarities between the story and the real-life murder of toddler James Bulger has been drawn upon many times and so I will not go into too much detail here, but this is certainly a film I recommend everyone to see in their lifetime.

See if you liked: Never Let Me Go, Intermission
Rating: 5/5