UK Film Network

THE TIMES BFI 53^RD LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 14-29 October 2009

Published by: Tremayne (Potter)

Thursday 29^th October 2009 (Morning Screening for PRESS only!)

Nowhere Boy

Dir.: Sam Taylor-Wood, Scr.: Matt Greenhalgh.

Cast: Aaron John, Kristin Scott Thomas (Mimi), David Threlfall (Uncle George), Ann-Marie Duff (Julia), David Morrissey (Bobby), Thomas Brodie Sangster (Paul).

‘Mother.. you had me, but I never had you.’

(Imagine) John Lennon’s childhood…

Liverpool, 1955, a bright but disturbed fifteen year-old craves recognition.  Caught up in a family holding lots of secrets, two powerful women fight over John.  One is Mimi, his pent up aunt who raised him, the other, Julia, his prodigal mother who has now returned after leaving him.

Desperate for a normal family life,  John discovers a more meaningful existence within the world of rock ‘n’ roll, where his talents find those in teenage soul mate, Paul McCartney.

As John’s life begins to make more sense, something traumatic happens.  But always the fighter, he finds himself and an icon is born.

“Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realized that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity.  Surrealism to me is reality.”

(John Lennon)

Director Sam Taylor-Wood was nominated for a Palme d’Or at The 2008 Cannes Film Festival for Film4 debut short Love You More, produced by Mentor Anthony Minghella. Her debut feature film Nowhere Boy is dedicated to him. She is best known for her work as an artist and photographer. Her work is displayed in many reputable galleries throughout the world.

“Visualize everything when you’re writing, ..otherwise you’re looking at ink.  ..I acted the scenes out, I walked around Mendips, and Woolton, I went to St. Peter’s Church Hall where John and Paul first met.  I wanted to understand exactly what the locations were, it’s about imbibing, getting the look right, feeling the dialogue is right and trying to capture the way people spoke at that time.  Once that’s all in place, the pictures come into your head.”

(Matt Greenhalgh, screenplay writer of the award winning film Control).

Nowhere Boy will open in cinemas across the UK on 26 December 2009.

(Certificate and running time remain to be confirmed).