Borstal Boy

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Irish teenager political activist and future writer Brendan Behan is befriended in a British borstal (reformatory) by a liberal warden.Irish teenager political activist and future writer Brendan Behan is befriended in a British borstal (reformatory) by a liberal warden.Irish teenager political activist and future writer Brendan Behan is befriended in a British borstal (reformatory) by a liberal warden.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations

Photos8

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Hidden Away

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The Broadway production of "Borstal Boy" based on a book by Brendan Behan and adapted for the stage by Frank McMahon opened at the Lyceum Theater in New York on March 31, 1970, ran for 143 performances and won the 1970 Tony Award for Best play.

Goofs
When Brendan arrives in Liverpool (which is actually London in the movie) he is passed by a London Transport Routemaster bus, a type which did not appear until 1958, though the movie is set in 1942.

Quotes
[Repeated Line]
Brendan Behan: As a prisoner of war, it is my duty to escape.

Connections
Featured in Insight Into the Borstal Boy (2000)

User reviews29

Review

Featured review

9/10

"As a prisoner of war, it is my duty to escape."

I saw an advance screening of this film last week and had the pleasure of speaking with Peter Sheridan afterwards. Simply put, it is the story of a young Brendan Behan who discovers love, friendship and tragedy whilst imprisoned in an English reform school. Although he refuses to denounce his IRA affiliations, Behan is eventually released after his actions during a strange series of events at the school reveal his true and most upstanding character. The movie was very touching and well acted by an international cast. Sheridan made some daring casting choices (The Irish Behan is played by an American, Shawn Hatosy,) but the results make for a captivating film. Go and see Borstal Boy.