Very much enjoyed this, from a film point of view of course given the dark and saddening tone of the story. 'The Selfish Giant' is a gritty drama involving two kids who get mixed up in the wrong world. At the beginning I was worried it was going to turn into a cliché-filled, overly stereotypical tale of less well-off families. It does in small doses, but feels legitimate for the majority. Cast-wise it isn't amazing, though it's impossible not to give praise to youngsters Conner Chapman (Arbor) and Shaun Thomas (Swiftly) as they give very respectable performances, especially when taking into account the tricky nature of role and premise. Sean Gilder is good as Kitten, while some of the others are solid enough. It's both impactful and heartbreaking, especially across the third act. Recommended viewing.

It's basically a story about children morons bourne from parent morons who are so thick they can't be educated so have to earn a living from thievery. The entire community are also kretins, making their livings from thieving. I had no empathy for these lowlifes whatsoever but it wasn't a bad film.

Film about scrap metal dealing and the potential cash returns that it provides, sometimes illegally. The central characters are school friends Arbor and Swifty. Arbor suffers from a form of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and ends up permanently excluded from school and into a life of poverty and scrounging scrap metal. This activity does provide some short term much needed money but ends up with critical circumstances as Swifty is electrocuted. It is one of those films that evokes memories of so many others, be it works from Ken Loach like Kes and The Navigators to Hollywood films such as Ben-Hur and Warhorse! Director Clio Barnard has furthered her links to Rita, Sue and Bob Too! with another socially surreal film set in the northern England city of Bradford. The trouble with these films is they usually depict England (especially the north of the country) as a bleak, dark area. It isn't (not all the time). Casting is pretty minimal with a young cast apart from the parents of Arbor and Swifty and the older scrap metal dealer Kitten. Some of these actors I recognised from other films of the genre and 온라인카지노추천 work. Barnard just might carry on the mantle of legendary but ageing director Ken Loach. 3.5/5

A pearl. A very sad pearl, but a pearl nevertheless.

Gritty, funny, sad and some very believable performances from the young cast - good work

In a word: harrowing.

What an incredible film. I'm speechless.

Perfect acting, great directing and realistic consequences. Everything a great movie needs, "The Selfish Giant" has it.

The shot is beautiful, needs to be watched. Heartbreaking.

Immersive and touching.

Powerful and frighteningly plausible, The Selfish Giant tells the story of what greed, from the inside or outside of the circle, can do to two young and foolish friends who bite off more than they may be able to chew.

So that's where Rita (from Rita, Sue and Bob Too) ended up

this movie broke my heart

Worth the ratings but make sure you hide the razorblades first.... Makes 'The Road' look like a zany comedy :/

A British indie much in the same vein of standout examples like Fish Tank, Tyrannosaur and in many respects This Is England, Clio Barnard's small budget acting driven piece is also much like these films not something to watch if you are in the need of a cheer up, but is an impressively constructed, scripted and acted piece that despite showing it's hand too early, provides a frank, honest and raw look at the lives of childhood friends Arbor and Swifty. To say that Arbor and Swifty are underprivileged would be an understatement, for these children are very much the products of their environment that disallows them to focus on being a child. Arbor played by the often great Conner Chapman is an angry boy, the boy at school that is a ticking time bomb of violence and attitude and a leader to the more mellow and slow Swifty played by the also quite great Shaun Thomas. As a team, Arbor and Swifty are a mismatched pair, Arbor a part of a divorced parent team and Swifty a member of a large "pikey" like family that he clearly feels responsible for, but the two work together gathering scrap and products to try and make a dollar and help support their lives as school goes on the backburner. Arbor and Swifty's plight may seem like a slight journey yet the direction of Barnard is a steady one that leads to many a touching moment. The Selfish Giant is at its core a tale of friendship and a tale of survival in a sad state of affairs for these boys and it's a tale that feels sadly believable. With a great eye for the grimy detail of the world these boys live in (again hearkening back to these other fine U.K films of the similar vein) Barnard captures this life of the boys fantastically from the fog strewn paddocks, the telephone tower laden lands or the rundown housing complexes, the world feels authentic and the characters relatable. The boy's dealings with scrap metal owner and horse enthusiast Kitten also feels real in a place where everyone is looking to rip off everyone and a child doing a man's job is nothing to baulk at. With a pace that is at times awkwardly played out and with a story that sadly ends up exactly how it looks likely to, The Selfish Giant is held back slightly by its own doings but is popped up to a high standing thanks to some great young actors, a heartfelt script and a fine directional turn from the to watch with interest Barnard. Not a movie to bring a smile to your face, but a movie that is another fine showcase for the impressive work many budding British filmmakers are producing that are all types of authentic and true. 3 and a half stripped wires out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

Wonderful character development. Heart-wrenching.

The British have a knack for depicting the poor and downtrodden. Poverty affects lives in ways most people will never understand, which is how the main characters end up in a dangerous situation. This is a well-told story that is both raw and eye-opening.

Not bad, but certainly overrated. I don't like when movies like themselves too much. This one pats itself on the back a bunch of times. And that got in the way of me connecting with it fully. But the performances are good, and its a clever story, and definitely worth seeing. It's worth the journey, even if you'll roll your eyes once or twice.

I liked 'The Arbor' but this is just brilliant. The story is cut back to the bare bones to leave nothing to take your eyes off the screen for it's brief 90mins. Great central characters and a beautiful story though, loved this.

Loved this film! It is emotional and beautifully put together. Heartbreaking but moving.