Film Review A Boy Called Dad

UK 2009. 80 min. Director: Brian Percival. Cast: Kyle Ward, Ian Hart

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Film Review: A Boy Called Dad

Kyle Ward makes his stellar debut as Robbie, a boy whose father abandoned him when he was four years old. 10 years on, Robbie has become a father himself at just age 14.

A Boy Called Dad is a moving account of teenage pregnancy from the father’s perspective. At first, Robbie shirks all responsibility for the child and in turn is shunned from taking part in his upbringing. He is distracted from his problems after a chance meeting with his father, Joe (Hart). Being back in touch makes Robbie realise that he too has abandoned his son and so he attempts to become involved with the child before being warned to stay away by the mother.

The reunion between Robbie and Joe leads to several more encounters and the pair begin to bond until Joe suddenly disappears from Robbie’s life once again. 10 years of frustration and anger caused by Joe’s departure is unearthed and in the heat of a violent argument with his baby’s step father, Robbie decides to go on the run with his estranged child.

From this point on we see Robbie grow from a boy to a man as he faces the responsibility of caring for a baby on his own. This original story is captured beautifully by BAFTA award-winning Shameless and Life on Mars writer Julie Rutterford. The film is made by a northern production company and almost entirely shot in the north of England. Although it’s refreshing that the film doesn’t conform to the usual gritty violent tales of miserable people living miserable lives ‘oop North’, it’s a little disappointing that the north isn’t shown in a more positive and forward-thinking light.

Amazing performances, delicately delivered, make this film incredibly emotional but ultimately uplifting. Beautifully shot, directed and written with a noticeable yet brave lack of dialogue, the film will have your attention long after the credits have rolled.

On general release 30 April

Posted on Monday 19th April 2010
Annie Moss

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