Boy A

A young man who spent years in an institution for a murder he committed as a child is released with a new name and a new life. His caseworker tells him to say nothing about his past to anyone. The film does not debate the crime; its subject is the fear of being recognised, with the possibility that his new friends, his girlfriend and everyone at work will one day find out sitting under every scene. The narrative shows the past too but does not force the viewer to reach a verdict. John Crowley directed, with Andrew Garfield in his first major role and Peter Mullan as the caseworker. It is adapted from a novel and was made for British television. A real warning: the film is about a murder committed by children and the threat of mob retribution. The ending is extremely hard and offers no comfort.