Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Borstal Boy

Play trailer Poster for Borstal Boy 2002 1h 33m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
47% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Brendan Behan, a 16-year-old Republican, 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. At Borstal, Brendan is forced to live face-to-face with those he perceived as the enemy, a confrontation that reveals a deep inner conflict in the young Brendan and forces a self-examination that is revealing.

Where to Watch

Borstal Boy

Borstal Boy

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The sentimentality of Borstal Boy feels false in contrast to the gritty life of the actual Brendan Behan.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Janice Page Boston Globe Jun 7, 2002
2/4
Dripping with cliche and bypassing no opportunity to trivialize the material. Go to Full Review Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer May 2, 2002
2/4
Takes a clunky TV-movie approach to detailing a chapter in the life of the celebrated Irish playwright, poet and drinker. Go to Full Review Misha Berson Seattle Times Apr 12, 2002
2.5/4
Well-made but mush-hearted. Go to Full Review Jan Stuart The Advocate Jun 1, 2022
The result is as entertaining and manipulative as such a formula might promise, helped immeasurably by engaging performances from the two male leads. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Apr 7, 2009
2/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Sep 26, 2005
2/5
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Robert P @Superbad Sep 5, 2026 Borstal Boy = a *3* star movie! See more garth m @Garth Aug 26, 2014 Watched the movie once again. Criminal organizations have long used children to do their dirty work because if caught they'll get off lightly. The Canadian Young-Offenders Act has been accused of fostering this belief. Terrorist groups and guerrilla armies like children because they are malleable and make fanatical fighters. Brendan Behan was so recruited by the IRA and found himself confined to Borstal Prison for boys. As played by Michael York the Prison Administrator was a fair-minded disciplinarian who believed in rehabilitation and treated his charges with the same respect he expected from them in return. As Behan Shawn Hatosy brings a Watched the movie once again. Criminal organizations have long used children to do their dirty work because if caught they'll get off lightly. The Canadian Young-Offenders Act has been accused of fostering this belief. Terrorist groups and guerrilla armies like children because they are malleable and make fanatical fighters. Brendan Behan was so recruited by the IRA and found himself confined to Borstal Prison for boys. As played by Michael York the Prison Administrator was a fair-minded disciplinarian who believed in rehabilitation and treated his charges with the same respect he expected from them in return. As Behan Shawn Hatosy brings a nascent Irish legend to life. The movie makes of a negative experience a positive rebirth. See more Jan 5, 2013 Sweet but really awkward. See more Jan 28, 2012 Good story. Touching period piece. A most confusing love triangle blossoms. I recommend it if you are not a closed-minded prude, and you appreciate the Brits. See more Aug 22, 2011 Loved loved this film See more Mar 18, 2011 This is a moving drama that *just* manages to veer away from being too preachy at the end, although it was a close call. Shawn Hatosy turns in an impressively understated performance. See more Read all reviews
Borstal Boy

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Peter Sheridan

Director

Shawn Hatosy

Brendan Behan

Danny Dyer

Charlie Milwall

Michael York

Joyce

Lee Ingleby

Dale

Robin Laing

Jock

More Like This

View All
Antwone Fisher 78% 86% Antwone Fisher Watchlist TRAILER for Antwone Fisher Every Man for Himself and God Against All 91% 90% Every Man for Himself and God Against All Watchlist Sins of the Father 50% 71% Sins of the Father Watchlist 16 Years of Alcohol 80% 68% 16 Years of Alcohol Watchlist Liam 70% 72% Liam Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Borstal Boy

Borstal Boy (2000) Michael York and Eva Birthistle co-star in BORSTAL BOY. Shawn Hatosy as Brendan, a young Irish soldier imprisoned in WW-II England in BORSTAL BOY. (l-r) Robin Lang, Danny Dyer and Shawn Hatosy as reform school students in WWII-era England in Peter Sheridan's BORSTAL BOY. Shawn Hatosy pins fellow reform school student Danny Dyer in BORSTAL BOY. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Brendan Behan, a 16-year-old Republican, 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. At Borstal, Brendan is forced to live face-to-face with those he perceived as the enemy, a confrontation that reveals a deep inner conflict in the young Brendan and forces a self-examination that is revealing.
Director
Peter Sheridan
Producer
Pat Moylan, Arthur Lappin
Screenwriter
Brendan Behan, Nye Heron, Peter Sheridan
Distributor
Strand Releasing
Production Co
Hell's Kitchen Films, Full Schilling Investments
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 1, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$87.1K
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings