Tom Courtney gives a star-making role in this perfect piece of kitchen sink drama.
Colin Smith is the oldest son of his large, nearly impoverished family, forced into the role of breadwinner after the early death of his father. Caught by the police after robbing a bakery, Colin is sent to Ruxton Towers borstal, where his athletic ability quickly marks him out as the governor's golden boy. But his successful "rehabilitation" looks uncertain as he struggles with the unfair treatment he receives and the expectations of conformity placed upon him.
- Director: Tony Richardson
- Cast: Tom Courtenay, Michael Redgrave, James Bolam
- Language: English
This screening will be introduced by Melanie Williams, a film and media historian specialising in issues of gender, with a notable track record of research on British cinema. Her key publications in this area include the monographs Prisoners of Gender, Female Stars of British Cinema: The Women in Question, and A Taste of Honey (2023).
Northern Youth—Northern Youth is a celebration of northern young identity in cinema. Bradford is one of the UK's youngest cities with a significant portion of its population under 25, and this season champions the bold and blistering spirit of youthful northern characters, actors, film-makers, writers, and mavericks. Punky and poetic, powerful and punchy, this season celebrates northern youth in all its glory.
The season is curated for Bradford 2025 by Dominic Leclerc, the Bradford-born, raised and based director of Sex Education, Skins and Shameless, and the upcoming Bradford-set feature Flesh and Flamingos about queer northern youth. His passion for complex and daring stories about youth drive this rebellious and raw season.
The selections in Northern Youth span several decades, from a '60s British New Wave classic celebrating teenage rebellion, to a provocative contemporary film debut about consent. The stories transport us from the back streets of Salford, to the majestic Yorkshire moors; from the Liverpool of a teenage boy's lyrical imagination, to the underbelly of Nottingham's council estates. The stories are unique and bursting with youthful spirit: from a group of '80s skinheads exploring their collective and individual identity, to a teenage girl in Yorkshire pushing at the realms of her sexuality, from a young northern rebel boldly defying authority, to a group of adolescents navigating their bodies and emotions on their first clubbing holiday. Together, these films celebrate northern youth in all its complexity—championing diversity, the individual experience, and both the frailty and wonder of being on the cusp of adulthood.
This season is part of Bradford: A City of Film, a programme of independent film across the Bradford District. Co-Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and National Science and Media Museum with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery.
