Nowhere Boy


Nowhere Boy Screening Report





Our last screenings of 2010 resulted in our largest total attendance ever. The afternoon session saw 394 patrons attend the screening of the poignant and little known story of John Lennon during his teenage years. Sam Taylor-Wood's debut feature film wonderfully portrayed his turmoil in being caught between his mother Julia and his aunt Mimi and his subsequent immersion in music. It was a huge audience favourite. Aaron Johnson as Lennon, Kristin Scott Thomas as Aunt Mimi and Anne-Marie Duff as his mother Julia were outstanding. Nowhere Boy will be released to video in January.

The last day's screenings resulted in $800 being donated to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and $200 each to the Neighbour to Neighbour, Good Shepherd and Hamilton Food Share Food Banks.




Nowhere Boy Synopsis






Imagine John Lennon's childhood... Liverpool 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen year-old (Aaron Johnson) is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over John. Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), the buttoned-up Aunt who raised him, and Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock n' roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney. Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice—and an icon explodes into the world.

The film was the directorial debut of conceptual artist/photographer Sam Taylor-Wood. The screenplay was written by Matt Greenhalgh, who also wrote the acclaimed Joy Division film Control. The film was shot on location in Liverpool, and at Ealing Studios in West London. Some of the interior school scenes were filmed at Sacred Heart Catholic College in Crosby.



Running Time
Rating
97 minutes
14-A
Release to VHS and DVD: T.B.A.


Click on each image to see a larger picture.




Awards




Venice Film Festival Winner: Special Jury Prize

BAFTA: Nomination: Best Supporting Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas)

BAFTA: Nomination: Best Supporting Actress (Anne Marie Duff)

BAFTA: Nomination: Best Film

BAFTA: Nomination: Best First Feature by a British Writer

British Independent Awards Winner: Best Supporting Actress (Anne-Marie Duff)

British Independent Awards Nomination: Best Actor (Aaron Johnson)

 British Independent Awards Nomination: Best Supporting Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas

British Independent Awards Nomination: Best Independent Film

British Independent Awards Nomination: Best Screenplay

British Independent Awards Nomination: Douglas Hickox Award (Sam Taylor-Wood)

London Critics Circle Film Awards Winner: Best Supporting Actress (Anne-Marie Duff)

London Critics Circle Film Awards Nomination: Young British Performer of the Year (Aaron Johnson)

London Critics Circle Film Awards Nomination: Best Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas)

London Critics Circle Film Awards Nomination: Best Director(Sam Taylor-Wood)

Irish Film Awards Nomination: Best Supporting Actress (Anne-Marie Duff)

Evening Standard British Awards Winner: Best Actress (Anne-Marie Duff)

Empire Awards Winner: Best Newcomer (Aaron Johnson)

Empire Awards Nomination: Best Actress (Anne-Marie Duff)

Empire Awards Nomination: Best Film




The Critics Comment




Sunday Times (UK)/Cosmo Landesman
Taylor-Wood has opted for a natural realism, free of arty flourishes — a style as sensible and conservative as Aunt Mimi. She is happy to provide a canvas on which her ­ talented cast can shine, and they do.

Independent/Anthony Quinn
This study of a boy damaged by loss yet determined to honour his talent strikes a mighty chord, and marks a hugely promising feature debut.

This is London/nick Curtis
Nowhere Boy has striking emotional depth, a spot-on sense of period, and a central performance of remarkable texture and nuance from newcomer Aaron Johnson.

Screenwize/Simon Weaving
Visual artist Sam Taylor-Wood casts aside her moody conceptual art and directs a lively, insightful and slightly nostalgic look at the drama of John Lennon's formative years and his relationship with the two women who brought him up.

Shadows on the Wall/Rich Cline
This beautifully written and directed biopic has a strong ring of truth to it, mainly due to Taylor-Wood's artistic approach to filmmaking. It also features extremely complex characters and a remarkably vivid collection of events.

Salon.com/Andrew O'Hehir
Rather than a rock 'n' roll biopic, this is a classic British family melodrama, anchored by one of the subtlest, richest roles in Kristin Scott Thomas' impressive career



Related Links



Internet Movie Database
Rotten Tomatoes
Official Web Site




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