Borstal Boy (2000)

45% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,562 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Peter Sheridan
Written By: Peter Sheridan, Nye Heron
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Oct 15, 2002
Studio: Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Janice Page, Boston Globe
Dripping with cliche and bypassing no opportunity to trivialize the material.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Hatosy establishes himself here not only as the bona fide star of this little ensemble film, but also as a talent to be watched.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Takes a clunky TV-movie approach to detailing a chapter in the life of the celebrated Irish playwright, poet and drinker.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A film that will probably please people already fascinated by Behan but leave everyone else yawning with admiration.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Does anyone much think the central story of Brendan Behan is that he was a bisexual sweetheart before he took to drink?
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Behan's memoir is great material for a film -- rowdy, brawny and lyrical in the best Irish sense -- but Sheridan has settled for a lugubrious romance.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Hatosy's Irish accent was way better than I expected.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
A gentle and engrossing character study.
John Patterson, L.A. Weekly
Behan's emotional growth and confused self-examination are ably conveyed by Hatosy's spirited and well-nuanced performance.
Kim Morgan, Oregonian
Sheridan had a wonderful account to work from, but, curiously, he waters it down, turning grit and vulnerability into light reading.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
The film is saved by its performances.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Borstal Boy represents the worst kind of filmmaking, the kind that pretends to be passionate and truthful but is really frustratingly timid and soggy.
Misha Berson, Seattle Times
Well-made but mush-hearted.
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
Serves as a powerful reminder that children have been willing to die for the hatred in which they've been schooled for a long time now.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
"I blame all men for war," [the warden's daughter] tells her father. The movie is about as deep as that sentiment.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Thomas J

A very nice story of young Brendan Behan that shows love sometimes is found in unexpected places. As with any movie with WWII as a backdrop, there is not always a lot of sunshine, but the sweetness of youth is demonstrated.
Lady D

I think the average fan of Danny Dyer, may be a little disappointed with this film as he doesn?t play his stereotypical type of role. Performance-wise, it was a good surprise that the Actor wasn?t typecast, however it lacked any major excitement.