A Boy Called Dad
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''A Boy Called Dad'' is a 2009 British
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...
, produced by Made Up North Productions. It is the feature film debut of director
Brian Percival Brian Percival is a British film director, known for his work on the British television series ''Downton Abbey'' and '' North & South'', as well as the feature film '' The Book Thief''. Biography He was born in Liverpool, England, in 1962 an ...
, screenwriter
Julie Rutterford Julie Rutterford is a British film and television screenwriter. She shared a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film with producer Janey de Nordwall and director Brian Percival in 2001 for their film '' About a Girl''. She had previously scripted epis ...
, producers Michael Knowles and Stacey Murray, and co-producer Mark John. It stars Ian Hart and Kyle Ward as father and son.


Plot

''A Boy Called Dad'' tells the story of Robbie, a fourteen-year-old boy who has just become a father. Robbie wishes to take responsibility for his baby son, Elliot, but the mother wants nothing more to do with him. A near-accident reunites Robbie with his estranged father, Joe, and for a while their relationship flourishes. But Joe proves a feckless, unreliable man, and Robbie realizes he does not want to be the same kind of father to his own child. After seeing the baby with his mother and her abusive new boyfriend, Robbie decides to take action. Confrontation leads to violence, and Robbie kidnaps his son and goes on the run. Travelling cross-country, he meets Nia, a traumatized young woman who has some ugly family issues to resolve. Meanwhile, an increasingly guilt-ridden Joe searches for Robbie, trying to guess where he might go next. His search leads to a final confrontation between Joe and Robbie, in which each is forced to face up to the past. The police soon arrive and Robbie gives Joe his son. In the end, Robbie says "They reckon that when you're drowning, you see your life flash before ya. But I didn't, I saw someone else's life, it was my son's, Elliot."


Cast

* Kyle Ward as Robbie * Ian Hart as Joe *
Charlene McKenna Charlene Lee McKenna ( ga, Searlaoin Nic Chionaoith; born 26 March 1984) is an Irish actress. She became a household name in Ireland after starring as Jennifer Jackson in the miniseries '' Pure Mule'' (2005). She appeared on Irish television in ...
as Nia * Sacha Parkinson as Leanne * Louise Delamere as Lynda * Steve Evets as Mr. Whippy *
Crissy Rock Christine Murray (born 23 September 1958), known professionally as Crissy Rock, is an English award-winning actress, stand-up comedian, and best-selling author, most notable for her role as Maggie Conlan in the 1994 film '' Ladybird, Ladybird' ...
as Chip Shop Woman


Festival screenings

''A Boy Called Dad'' received its world premiere at the
Edinburgh Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is a film festival that runs for two weeks in June each year. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival. EIFF presents both UK and international films (all t ...
in 2009, where it was nominated for the
Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company The Archers, they together wrote, produced and directed a seri ...
award and Kyle Ward received a Trailblazer award. The film was also voted an audience favorite at the festival. The film has since gone on to screen in at the 4th
International Rome Film Festival International Rome Film Fest is a film festival that takes place in Rome during the month of October. The name in Italian is Festa del Cinema di Roma. Sections The Rome Film Festival official program is divided into several sections: Cinema d'Og ...
, the CineMagic in
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...
, and to a home crowd at the Salford Film Festival. ''A Boy Called Dad'' was released on DVD on 14 August 2010.


References


External links

*
Made Up North Productions Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boy Called Dad 2009 films 2009 drama films British drama films Social realism in film Films directed by Brian Percival 2000s English-language films 2000s British films