This is a British film loosely inspired by the Oscar Wilde short story of the same name (part of The Happy Prince and Other Tales).
It tells the story of two boys Arbor and Swifty in Bradford. I've never heard the name Arbor before; and thought he was being called Arthur... but it didn't sound quite right. I think it is a tree reference to the original story which has gone over my head. Also, director Clio Barnard's previous film was a documentary called The Arbor.
Anyway, the film is a classic end-of-innocence story, in the loosest sense... since the boys are hardly innocent at the beginning, unsurprisingly, given the environment they are growing up in. The boys are both involved with theft of metals, under the cover of legitimate scrap-metal dealing. They get in deeper as the film goes on, and you know things are going to end badly for someone.
The characters of the two boys are brilliantly constructed and played by child actors Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas. Their similarities and differences are enthralling as their powerful friendship is tested to breaking point by events.
Ultimately this is a film about that terrible moment when you realise that your actions have consequences for other people. Consequences which, like it or not, you have to take responsibility for, one way or another.
Very well made film. Well worth a watch.
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