A Sense of Freedom
A harrowing tale of a habitual and brutal criminal.
Based on the 1977 autobiography of Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle, this 1981 Scottish Television film was directed by John Mackenzie. David Hayman stars in the crime drama, which earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Single Play.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- True crime
- Drama
- Thriller
- Writer
- Peter McDougall
- Story
- Jimmy Boyle
- Director
- John Mackenzie
- Starring
- David Hayman
- Jake D'Arcy
- Sean Scanlan
- Hector Nicol
- Fulton Mackay
- Music
- Frankie Miller; Rory Gallagher
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Production
Jeremy Isaacs read the book A Sense of Freedom and believed it suitable for filming. He optioned the book and secured interest from Scottish Television, noting that Bill Brown's support was crucial. Isaacs attached writer Peter MacDougall and director John Mackenzie, who had previously collaborated on three BBC Play for Today episodes. STV financed the film. David Hayman spent five weeks training in the gym and two weeks observing people in east end Glasgow pubs to prepare for his role. Because the Scottish Prison Service did not cooperate, prison scenes were filmed in Dublin's Kilmainham Jail. Strathclyde Council prohibited filming within its borders, and local courts refused location access, forcing producers to build a set; most of the film was shot in Scotland. In August 1980, Scottish Television refused to allow the film into the Edinburgh Film Festival, a decision producer Kenith Todd called a ban.
Release
The film was broadcast on ITV on 17 February 1981, followed the next evening by a debate titled A Long Term Solution? chaired by Desmond Wilcox. The Scottish Daily Record called it the most powerful piece of television ever from Scotland. Nancy Banks-Smith in The Guardian noted that time passed slowly and tediously, reflecting Mackenzie's objective. The Daily Telegraph rated the film outstanding and praised Hayman's performance. In May 1984, HandMade Films agreed to distribute the film in cinemas outside the UK, and it received a US cinema release in 1985.
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