The Selfish Giant

Name: The Selfish Giant
Genre: Drama
Released: December 20, 2013
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Conner Chapman, Ian Burfield, Lorraine Ashbourne, Sean Gilder, Shaun Thomas

2013

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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The Selfish Giant

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Movie Details & Credits

Sundance Selects | Release Date: December 20, 2013 | Not Rated

Starring: Conner Chapman, Ian Burfield, Lorraine Ashbourne, Sean Gilder, Shaun Thomas

Summary: Two teenage best friends, Arbor (Conner Chapman) and Swifty (Shaun Thomas), work for a scrap dealer in Bradford, England.

Director: Clio Barnard

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Andrew O'Hehir

Dec 20, 2013

It’s so assured and accomplished, so rigorous on both a human and technical level, and so clearly driven by love for this harsh landscape and its hardened people, that I was entirely swept away by its characters and their story. Read full review

100

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

May 27, 2013

So hauntingly perfect is Barnard’s film, and so skin-pricklingly alive does it make you feel to watch it, that at first you can hardly believe the sum of what you have seen. Read full review

100

Paul Bradshaw

Oct 24, 2013

Carried aloft by the remarkable performances of her two young leads, Clio Barnard’s poignant, unflinching slice of hard-knock-life grips tight and lingers long. Britain’s definitely got talent. Read full review

Neil Young

May 27, 2013

[A] solidly effective addition to Britain's social realism tradition, elevated by excellent performances by the young leads and some unexpectedly poetic touches. Read full review

Noel Murray

Dec 19, 2013

The Selfish Giant is a harsh movie, but it isn’t devoid of hope, because Barnard understands that everything has value—even if it can’t be realized until after an object’s been tossed out. Read full review

Time Out London Dave Calhoun

Oct 22, 2013

It’s not a pretty story, but its warmth lies in its fondness – love, even – for the two boys at its heart. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Dec 20, 2013

It is admirably unsparing and gloomily atmospheric. And I looked at my watch a bunch of times. Read full review

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User Reviews

ugisupriatna

Aug 5, 2014

"The Selfish Giant" is an unexpectedly excellent working-class friendship movie. A strong and first-class first-time performance from two young leading actors make a tale about friendship, lost and desperation going quietly emotional and being a proof that British cinema has a film even"The Selfish Giant" is an unexpectedly excellent working-class friendship movie. A strong and first-class first-time performance from two young leading actors make a tale about friendship, lost and desperation going quietly emotional and being a proof that British cinema has a film even better than Hollywood.… Expand