Review of The Selfish Giant (2013) by Simon P — 24 Oct 2013
Clio Branard draws inspiration from the famous Oscar Wilde work to tell the story of two teenage boys caught in the world of copper theft. This film is a story of the friendship and strong bond between two young boys, which feels a lot like a moving representation of platonic love.
However, it is also a truly powerful drama about the state of kids in underprivileged areas of Britain and a reflection on the passive educational system of the United Kingdom. Barnard draws you inside this unappealing and dirty world in an ultimate display of the anti-fable.
In doing so she employs a realist style, not unlike the best works on social commentary by Ken Loach, that makes the film all the more impactful and ultimately haunting. Barnard was also able to inspire great performances in the two leads, who had never acted before but give genuinely strong performances and share great on screen chemistry, a chemistry which was needed to make their story not only believable but also as intense as it is.
This review of The Selfish Giant (2013) was written by Simon P on 24 Oct 2013.
The Selfish Giant has generally received very positive reviews.
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