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Nowhere boy - Kristin Scott-Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, Aaron Johnson, Sam Taylor-Wood

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Nowhere boy, the début feature of Sam Taylor-Wood, tells the never-seen-before story of John Lennon's childhood.

Imagine John Lennon's (Aaron Johnson) childhood. A spirited teenager, curious, sharp and funny, growing up in the shattered city of Liverpool. Two extraordinary sisters tussle for his love - Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), the formidable aunt who raised him from the age of five and Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), the spirited mother who gave him up to Mimi's care. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into art and the new music flooding in from the US. His fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the young Paul McCartney (Thomas Sangster). But just as John's new life begins, the truth about his past leads to a tragedy he would never escape.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film John Lennon biography Liverpool music The Beatles Paul McCartney childhood family guitar singing

Persons of interest

Aaron Johnson .... John Lennon
Kristin Scott Thomas .... Mimi Smith
Thomas Sangster .... Paul McCartney
Anne-Marie Duff .... Julia Lennon
David Morrissey .... Bobby Dykins
Ophelia Lovibond .... Marie Kennedy
Sam Bell .... George Harrison
Jack McElhone .... Eric Griffiths
Calum O'Toole .... Teddy Boy
Les Loveday .... Teddy
Ellie Jeffreys .... Teddy Girl
Christian Bird .... Jimmy Tarbuck
Josh Bolt .... Pete Shotton
Simon Lowe .... Jim Gretty
Daniel Solazzo .... Teddy Boy
James Johnson .... Stan Parks
Daniel Ross .... Nigel Whalley
Christian Bird .... Jimmy Tarbuck
Julia Baird .... Author
Matt Greenhalgh .... Screenwriter
Sam Taylor Wood .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Nowhere boy official movie sites:

Australia
International

Nowhere boy film production notes
Nowhere boy movie trailers:

QuickTime
YouTube

Awards and film festivals:

Studios and distributors:

Icon Film Distribution

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

It's good. Surprisingly touching. I thought this would be an exploitative film about the only part of John Lennon's life that hasn't yet been on screen but Nowhere boy manages to be a good story about a boy becoming a man, overshadowed by the greatness that is to come, a bit like a crown prince coming of age, only this Hal doesn't become a Henry, he stays a Hal.

Another good part of the story is to witness the "accidents" of history in the coming together of famous people before they were famous. There were many opportunities for the Fab Four to never get past the Quarrymen: John could've wound up in Australia. Paul could've missed the performance. George Harrison might've not had a friend in the band. These are the kind of co-incidences that make you think about fate and destiny.

The Liverpudlian accents aren't overdone, nor is the casting (they went for talent that resembles the person rather than vice versa). There's a strong touch of History boys about the movie that is as charming as the Lennon family struggles are uncomfortable. It's a nice contrast, like Christmas turkey and cranberry sauce.

The John Lennon biography movie Nowhere boy is directed by Sam Taylor-Wood and stars Kristin Scott-Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, Aaron Johnson.