The Selfish Giant
2013 · Movie · R · 91 min · ★ 7.2 · 91% critics
Two close friends from a struggling neighborhood start collecting and stealing scrap metal to earn quick cash, selling it to a shady dealer. As the work grows riskier and pressures at home mount, their bond is tested by jealousy, bad influences, and the harsh realities of trying to survive.
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Streaming on AMC+, Sundance Now and MUBI.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2013
- Release date
- 2013-10-25
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Critic score
- 91/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (247 votes)
About
You’ll likely connect with this if you want a gritty, emotionally heavy British drama about friendship, poverty, and risky choices, in the vein of Nil by Mouth or We Need to Talk About Kevin; Not for you if you need uplifting stories or lighter viewing.
Pros: raw, authentic feel; powerful young performances; gripping friendship story | Cons: relentlessly bleak tone; heavy swearing throughout; hardship can feel exploitative
Themes
- friendship
- horse
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd)
- yorkshire
- based on short story
- woman director
- school suspension
- bradford
Awards & recognition
- Lux Prize · 2013 · nominated
Cast & crew
- CC
Conner Chapman
as Arbor
Shaun Thomas
as Swifty
Sean Gilder
as Kitten
Lorraine Ashbourne
as Mary
Ian Burfield
as Mick Brazil
Steve Evets
as Price Drop Swift
Siobhan Finneran
as Mrs. Swift
Ralph Ineson
as Johnny Jones
Rebecca Manley
as Michelle 'Shelly' Fenton
- RM
Rhys McCoy
as Daniel
Directed by Clio Barnard