Borstal Boy

2001 91 min ★ 6.2 Drama

Brendan Behan, a sixteen year-old IRA foot soldier, 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 Borstal, a reform institution for young offenders in East Anglia, England.

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Cast

Shawn Hatosy

Brendan Behan

Danny Dyer

Charlie Milwall

Robin Laing

Jock

Ian McElhinney

Verreker

Eva Birthistle

Liz Joyce

Mark Huberman

Mac

Lee Ingleby

Dale

Ronnie Drew

Customs man

Eamon Glancy

Manning

Dennis Conway

Holmes

Details

Director

Peter Sheridan

Tagline

"As a prisoner of war it is my duty to escape."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$100,000

Revenue

$87,400

Production

Dakota Films, Hell's Kitchen

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

January 22, 2025

★ 7/10

When Brendan Behan (Shawn Hatosy) arrives in Liverpool with a bag full of explosives amidst WWII, he's promptly caught and sent to a youth detention facility in Norfolk. It's run by a fair and open-minded warden (Michael York) who advises his inmates to behave themselves and all will be fine. That's easier said than done, though, as this confirmed Irish republican is not going to naturally fit in ...