A Sense of Freedom

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A Sense of Freedom
ASenseOfFreedom1985Cover.jpg
DVD cover
Genre True crime
Drama
Thriller
Written by Peter McDougall
Story by Jimmy Boyle
Directed by John Mackenzie
Starring David Hayman
Jake D'Arcy
Sean Scanlan
Hector Nicol
Fulton Mackay
Music by Frankie Miller
Rory Gallagher
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producer Jeremy Isaacs
Cinematography Chris Menges
Editor Alan MacMillan
Running time85 minutes
Production company Scottish Television
Original release
Network ITV
ReleaseFebruary 17, 1981 (1981-02-17)

A Sense of Freedom is a 1981 Scottish crime film directed by John Mackenzie for Scottish Television. [1] The film stars David Hayman and featured Jake D'Arcy, Sean Scanlan, Hector Nicol, Alex Norton and Fulton Mackay. [2] It is based on the 1977 autobiography of Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle, who was reputed to be Scotland's most violent man. [3]

Contents

A harrowing tale of a habitual and brutal criminal. Boyle repeatedly resisted attempts by the Prison Service to dampen his temper. He was brutally assaulted many times by Prison Officers. [4] He also assaulted many staff including a brutal attack causing an officer to lose his eye. [5]

The film received a BAFTA nomination for Best Single Play. [6]

Cast

Production

Jeremy Isaacs read the book A Sense of Freedom and thought that it was ideal for filming. He optioned the book and attracted interest from Scottish Television (STV); Isaacs wrote that Bill Brown's support was crucial. [7] Isaac then attached writer Peter MacDougall and director John Mackenzie who had worked together on Just Another Saturday and Just a Boy's Game. The film was financed by STV. [8]

Due to non-co-operation by the Scottish Prison Service in allowing a film crew access to their property, Hayman's scenes in prison were filmed in Dublin's Kilmainham Jail. [9] Strathclyde Council also prohibited the film from being shot within its borders. [8] Local courts refused to allow the film to use it as a location, forcing the producers to build a set. However most of the film was eventually shot in Scotland. [10]

In August 1980 Scottish Television refused to allow the film to be entered into the Edinburgh Film Festival, which was showing a retrospective of John MacKenzie's work. Producer Kenith Todd said this was essentially a ban. [8]

Music

The music is by Frankie Miller and Rory Gallagher. [11]

Release

The film was broadcast on ITV on 17 February 1981. The following evening they screened a debate about the case. [12]

"Rarely as has time passed so slowly or tediously," wrote The Guardian. [13]

In May 1984 it was announced that HandMade Films - which had helped finance MacKenzie's film The Long Good Friday - had agreed to distribute the film in cinemas outside the UK. [14]

The film received a release in some US cinemas in 1985.

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "A Sense of Freedom (1981)". BFI. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017.
  2. ↑ "A Sense of Freedom (1985) - John Mackenzie | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  3. ↑ "STV Player". STV Player.
  4. ↑ "Glasgow gangster turned writer Jimmy Boyle: 'I would be dead now without books'". the Guardian. 20 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "How Jimmy Boyle went from violent gangster to leading artist". The Scotsman.
  6. ↑ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
  7. ↑ Isaac p 256-258
  8. 1 2 3 "Ban on festival film". The Daily Telegraph. 29 August 1980. p. 10.
  9. ↑ Balkind, Nicola (19 October 2013). World Film Locations: Glasgow. Intellect Books. ISBN   9781841507194 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ "Definitely not a kissing phase". The Guardian. 16 February 1981. p. 11.
  11. ↑ Matthews, Simon (28 January 2021). Looking for a New England: Action, Time, Vision: Music, Film and TV 1975 - 1986. Oldcastle Books. ISBN   9780857304124 – via Google Books.
  12. ↑ "Television/Radio". The Guardian . 17 February 1981. p. 24.
  13. ↑ "Dog Days". The Guardian. 18 February 1981. p. 10.
  14. ↑ "Big jump". Daily Record. 12 May 1984. p. 21.
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