Borstal Boy is a 2000 romantic drama film directed by Peter Sheridan, based on the 1958 autobiographical novel of the same name by Brendan Behan.

Borstal Boy
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPeter Sheridan
Screenplay by
  • Peter Sheridan
  • Nye Heron
Based onBorstal Boy
by Brendan Behan
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyCiarán Tanham
Edited byStephen O'Connell
Music byStephen McKeon
Distributed byStrand Releasing
Release date
  • 1 March 2000 (2000-03-01)
Running time
93 minutes
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Ireland
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100,000
Box office$87,400

Plot

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In 1941, 16-year-old IRA volunteer Brendan Behan (Shawn Hatosy) is going on a bombing mission from Ireland to Liverpool during the Second World War. His mission is thwarted when he is apprehended, charged and imprisoned in a borstal, a reform institution for young offenders in East Anglia, England. At borstal, Brendan is forced to live face-to-face with those he regarded as his enemies, a confrontation that reveals a deep inner conflict in the young Brendan and forces a self-examination that is both traumatic and revealing. Events take an unexpected turn and Brendan is thrown into a complete spin. In the emotional vortex, he finally faces up to the truth.

Cast

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