I want to persuade you to watch this movie. I am not going to give an overview of the plot because it is not needed. If you like to stumble on a film where the lead performance is a tour de force, where British talent is showcased and you are intrigued by the Yorkshire backdrop then give this a chance.
The story unfolds slowly but it will be etched on your memory.
685 Reviews
Unsentimental beauty
glossopswift30 December 2018
Possibly the best self-distributed film you'll see and deserving of a wider audience. Dan Hartley wrote and directed this film as a tribute to a real person who guided him in his own life. It's well-written, beautifully shot and directed, and worth a few hours of anyone's time. Sadly, because it is a low budget film with an unknown cast Hartley has never been able to get a full distribution or the backing of major players. The film has a high average rating on IMDB and has one several international awards - you get to see it for free.
Tom is a thirteen year old lad living in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. Kids here make their own adventures with a vast open playground on their doorstep. It's a pretty normal life for Tom, his older brother and his mam and dad until tragedy strikes and Tom's life becomes a troubled one, understandably - thirteen year old lads aren't equipped to cope with normal life, let alone having big issues thrown at them.
The film has a recurring theme of loss and Tom must feel that everything he loves is taken from him - his dad, his brother, his home, his friends and, at one point, his innocence. And yet he keeps things together unknowingly before finding (and understanding) a bit more abouthis place in th world.
The cast are unknown and (I assume) in most cases amateur actors. Nevertheless there are stirring performance from Bretten Lord as Tom, Molly McGlynn as Lucy and a fantastic display by Nancy Clarkson as Tom's mam.
what endears this film to me most is it's unsentimentality. The acting is heart rending at times but doesn't overly rely on speeches of impact or scenes that are obviously written and rewritten to provide a Hollywood version of Yorkshire, the speech is quite natural. The depiction of the Yorkshire Dales is my most treasured element of the film. The local quarry is the employer of Tom's father and many scenes are shown against disused quarries and heaps of spoil. The houses are terraced workers houses, not centuries old stone cottages, and we see the characters in the ginnels and dirt lanes at the back of these houses. This is what the Dales are like for like for many people who work and live there, and yet it is still stunningly beautiful. It is impossible to make any part of the Pennines ugly I think, even filming below grey skies the desolate treeless moors have a magic quality that captivates and probably scares people unused to the unique landscape. I'm biased, mind - I live further south in the Dark Peak and am wed to moorland and old quarries. This isn't All Creatures Great and Small, Last of the Summer Wine, Wuthering Heights or Heartbeat - this is almost real life.
Tom is a thirteen year old lad living in a small village in the Yorkshire Dales. Kids here make their own adventures with a vast open playground on their doorstep. It's a pretty normal life for Tom, his older brother and his mam and dad until tragedy strikes and Tom's life becomes a troubled one, understandably - thirteen year old lads aren't equipped to cope with normal life, let alone having big issues thrown at them.
The film has a recurring theme of loss and Tom must feel that everything he loves is taken from him - his dad, his brother, his home, his friends and, at one point, his innocence. And yet he keeps things together unknowingly before finding (and understanding) a bit more abouthis place in th world.
The cast are unknown and (I assume) in most cases amateur actors. Nevertheless there are stirring performance from Bretten Lord as Tom, Molly McGlynn as Lucy and a fantastic display by Nancy Clarkson as Tom's mam.
what endears this film to me most is it's unsentimentality. The acting is heart rending at times but doesn't overly rely on speeches of impact or scenes that are obviously written and rewritten to provide a Hollywood version of Yorkshire, the speech is quite natural. The depiction of the Yorkshire Dales is my most treasured element of the film. The local quarry is the employer of Tom's father and many scenes are shown against disused quarries and heaps of spoil. The houses are terraced workers houses, not centuries old stone cottages, and we see the characters in the ginnels and dirt lanes at the back of these houses. This is what the Dales are like for like for many people who work and live there, and yet it is still stunningly beautiful. It is impossible to make any part of the Pennines ugly I think, even filming below grey skies the desolate treeless moors have a magic quality that captivates and probably scares people unused to the unique landscape. I'm biased, mind - I live further south in the Dark Peak and am wed to moorland and old quarries. This isn't All Creatures Great and Small, Last of the Summer Wine, Wuthering Heights or Heartbeat - this is almost real life.
A decent effort, but...
clewis26663 March 2021
Fairly routine plot, nicely handled , though with a fair few amateurish touches. All those friends of the participants who have been drafted in to give the film ten stars have their hearts in the right place, but I am not a Yorkshire bloke and, with the best will in the world, I cannot see this very decent film getting more than 7 out of 10 from a competent critic. Methinks that lot doth protest too much!
A fantastic, and very British, drama
mw-clarkson21 November 2014
"When Tom Proctor's dad dies, his world falls apart; his brother joins the army, his mum is threatened with eviction and Tom faces criminal prosecution after spreading manure over the local bank. All this changes however when Tom meets park ranger Al Thorpe in this inspiring story of two individuals overcoming adversity and finding true friendship."
The film is beautifully shot, and the landscapes alone are well worth 96 minutes of your time (Dan Mackie has won several awards for his cinematography in 'Lad').
The story tugs on the heartstrings in all the right places - you'll laugh, you'll cry, and above all you'll find the characters utterly compelling and believable. There's some wonderful comedic moments to counterpoint the emotional challenges facing the Tom and his mum, and Al's grand-daughter makes a very welcome appearance (certainly as far as Tom's concerned).
As a first time film-maker Dan Hartley does a brilliant job and the cast are both believable and engaging throughout, avoiding the trap of overplaying their roles. The film has won numerous awards at film festivals across the world and justifiably so.
I'm only sad that the film didn't find a mainstream distributor to get it into more cinemas.
The film is beautifully shot, and the landscapes alone are well worth 96 minutes of your time (Dan Mackie has won several awards for his cinematography in 'Lad').
The story tugs on the heartstrings in all the right places - you'll laugh, you'll cry, and above all you'll find the characters utterly compelling and believable. There's some wonderful comedic moments to counterpoint the emotional challenges facing the Tom and his mum, and Al's grand-daughter makes a very welcome appearance (certainly as far as Tom's concerned).
As a first time film-maker Dan Hartley does a brilliant job and the cast are both believable and engaging throughout, avoiding the trap of overplaying their roles. The film has won numerous awards at film festivals across the world and justifiably so.
I'm only sad that the film didn't find a mainstream distributor to get it into more cinemas.
Simply Beautiful
ataylor-2578019 January 2018
Beautiful, just beautiful. Beautiful story, beautiful acting (absolutely amazing everyday people pulling off Oscar worthy performances) stunning cinematography, & perfectly suited score. Spawned a great discussion for our library's Film Critics Club, & received 2 thumbs up from all!
Beautifully shot film and moving story
flairtranslations24 August 2018
The Yorkshire landscape is lovingly depicted in this film in all its raw, singular beauty. It is this aspect of the film, along with the performance of the young boy playing Tom, that stood out the most for me. The relationship that forms between the young boy and the ranger, Al, is a touching one and adds moments of poignancy.
However, I found some of the performances amateurish, which detracted from the emotional impact of the film. Also, the supremely wealthy bank manager was a less than believable caricature. Surely it is the fact that such institutions are faceless and anonymous that makes them so dehumanising and callous. The scene that involved the bank manager was a lazy, heavy-handed way of drawing comparisons between the powerful and the powerless.
The main source of the film's success is due to the performance of the young boy playing Tom, which is natural, nuanced and thoughtful.
However, I found some of the performances amateurish, which detracted from the emotional impact of the film. Also, the supremely wealthy bank manager was a less than believable caricature. Surely it is the fact that such institutions are faceless and anonymous that makes them so dehumanising and callous. The scene that involved the bank manager was a lazy, heavy-handed way of drawing comparisons between the powerful and the powerless.
The main source of the film's success is due to the performance of the young boy playing Tom, which is natural, nuanced and thoughtful.
Review from a Yorkshire lass
barrowlinda22 August 2018
What a tear jerker which brough out so many emotions within me.
I am still thinking about it now.
Although my heart went out to Tom who lost three male influences in his life. I felt for his Mum as not only did she have to endure the loss of her husband and potentially their home , she had to deal with her two sons.
The one son going off to the army and all the trauma and heartache around Tom. She was one strong woman, whom I admired to the end.
The beautiful Yorkshire Dales were so beautiful, it made me think of how anything bad could happen around their beauty and brought a smile to my face.
Being from Yorkshire myself but not having lived there for a very long time, I loved the accents especially Als, his reminded me of my dad who is no longer with us and every time he spoke I had a lump in my throat. Great film, great location, loved it
Best of British
oftrain24 August 2018
Watchable story of how a young teenage boy re-builds his life after the death of his father.
Good central performances in a story which deftly mixes comedy and tears and gives an idea of how life can be in the Yorkshire Dales.
Perhaps the real star is the landscape, beautifully shot throughout.
The level of whimsy occasionally threatens to unbalance the film, and there are some lazy caricatures (I doubt that many small-town bank managers live in such well-appointed houses as the one in this film).
All in all a good, warm-hearted watch, a very British film.
Good central performances in a story which deftly mixes comedy and tears and gives an idea of how life can be in the Yorkshire Dales.
Perhaps the real star is the landscape, beautifully shot throughout.
The level of whimsy occasionally threatens to unbalance the film, and there are some lazy caricatures (I doubt that many small-town bank managers live in such well-appointed houses as the one in this film).
All in all a good, warm-hearted watch, a very British film.
Compelling story...
adxvemxture22 September 2018
Hadn't intentionally set out to watch this film, but on a rainy bank holiday Monday happened upon it...
And what a joy.....
It reels you in, keeps you hooked and has the most heartwarming story at its heart.
It has a little bit of everything - highs and lows, fun and laughter.
I'm not from Yorkshire, but the film makes you feel like your home...
Lad, a Yorkshire Story.
alysonstokes21 August 2018
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this film, no block buster, thrills and spills and high adventure, fairy tale or fantasy but what you do get is a down to earth story of a young lad coping (or not) with personal tragedy. The filming was excellent, some of the shots were just beautifully worked and that was not just the beautiful Yorkshire scenery. I would recommend this film if you enjoy a story based on real life.
Truly Wonderful
judithbraithwaite2 September 2018
The mark of an excellent film in my mind is that it touches every emotion, whether you want it to or not. This film saddens, it gladdens, it's thought provoking, full of pathos, full of realism, beautiful scenery, compelling and the spirit of Yorkshire through and through. Without discussing the plot I urge you to watch this film and make up your own mind. I loved it.
heartwarming
mhchogan31 August 2018
"My Prize winning blue leicesters, mingling with swaledales! A bloody travesty"
Yorkshire is wonderfully captured in both it's people and scenery in this sombre and sweet tale about coming to terms with loss and change. There are moments of real sadness, heartwarming relationships and positive stories of rebuilding a life devastated by loss.
Some of the acting and delivery is amateur but for a very low budget film the main characters deliver with Yorkshire charm and wit. Dan Hartley has the making of a 21st century Mike Leigh.
Yorkshire is wonderfully captured in both it's people and scenery in this sombre and sweet tale about coming to terms with loss and change. There are moments of real sadness, heartwarming relationships and positive stories of rebuilding a life devastated by loss.
Some of the acting and delivery is amateur but for a very low budget film the main characters deliver with Yorkshire charm and wit. Dan Hartley has the making of a 21st century Mike Leigh.
Disappointing
gillsley28 August 2018
I found the approach to represent the elapse of time clumsy at times, and it didn't allow me to establish a relationship with the characters. Instead, I thought I'd sat on the remote control, causing the film to "jump".
I didn't feel the relationship with the brothers was fully developed.. It felt rushed and therefore not believable.
Sadly, I thought the acting was stilted in parts, particularly by the brother and the game keeper ..that in itself is quite telling, I can't remember any of their names, apart from Tom, as I didn't really "invest" in the characters, as there was little warmth, depth and passion in their characterisation of the roles.
I thought the granddaughter was believable, but sadly her attempts at pathos and humour feel flat. To watch her was to watch a person throw a ball, where the audience is expecting the catcher to catch it, only they place it into an empty plastic bowl.
Attempts at humour and pathos throughout the film let me feeling uncomfortable... Like I'd just caught my mum and dad about to enliven their sex life with role play, which involves tarts and vicars.
I was surprised, when I realised it was based on a true story, because you wanted it to work.
One word summary: awkward.
lad
jimvandemoter4 August 2018
I saw this movie a while back and have been searching for it, so I'm glad
I have a chance to see it again. There's so much to like about it. If you want a fast, loud and shallow movie this isn't for you, but if you want a good story and are willing to allow it to unfold, this might the movie for you. I like it o lot.
Lad
startrekfan7211 August 2018
This is a very thought invoking film, with many layers of thought going on hear, you have a family that has been torn apart by gut wrenching loss and heart ache, in the loss of their father and Husband, the hardest hit is Tom the youngest at thirteen he felt the brunt of the responsibility for his family as his Brother went off to the Army, he was left to fend for the family having to sell his prized rock collection to send his mother to tractor trailer school, that took heart to do, and steeling that tractor and spreading crap on the bank took wat the Greek,s call Th'rros Guts and courage, and I would say that boy has it in spades, this is a coming of age story for the whole family but will take your full attention because of the Upper Highlands accents, this a one for the whole family no bad language at ,east that we can understand. I would give it a rating of PG loosely. worth a watch
Yorkshire classic
sametka22 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Very moving emotional movie about young boy losing his father, almost losing his home, his brother leaving for army, his world just fallen apart and this movie
He is true gem but his mother is total rock, holding everything together
Poignant, inspiring, delightful tale
alcocks-7488721 August 2018
Great scenery
chriscarr_19993 September 2018
Extremely refreshing, deeply emotional
decacoso21 August 2018
A young Yorkshire 'Lad' feels 'empty' after his dad dies and people he cares about appear to leave him. Struggling to cope with his emotions he finds that people do care about him and help in ways he doesn't realise.
Such a refreshing film from the point of view of real lives of real people in stunning countryside.
I wish more films were made in a similar vein.
Lovely gentle film
catsmother111 February 2021
A poignant and truly special film
kymlyons23 August 2018
I was bowled over! Reminiscent of Kes, this little gem tells a bittersweet tale of the pain of adolescence amidst the turmoil of loss and bereavement. It sends shivers as redemption and regrowth of the soul takes place. Relationships come to sudden abrupt endings and promising new ones begin. Wisdom, time and experience overcome naivety and new life begins. It is a modern day Shakespearean tragedy with the simplicity and freshness of a truly original English film. It is stylish.yet captivating redolent of a time gone by. Not to be missed!
Quite dull
elizabethlfmurphy23 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I was sent this film by Show film first and asked to write a review.
While the landscapes of Yorkshire are pretty they are overpowered by the terrible and ridiculously loud soundtrack.. Screechy violins and guitars plucked tunelessly.
The plot is weak but I suppose it is based on true events so not much could be done about that.
The acting from Tom's mum is awful - Tom is very good.
At one point a 16 year old girl kisses 13 year old Tom even though he says multiple times he doesn't want to kiss her. To me this is unwanted sexual contact/bordering assault but from the music and setting I can tell the audience is supposed to view it as 'sweet' and 'funny'. This is not ok. Boys experience abuse too.
Beautiful British film
kelly-lowe23 August 2018
Proper Yorkshire Movie
davidinstockport24 August 2018
Lovely scenery beautifully filmed. Excellent music which augmented the film. The lad Tom is the kind of kid anyone would love as a son.
I would recommend this film to anyone who likes realistic and emotional drama.
There are some irritating edits in the football match & some of Tom's brother's lines aren't quite right. I also didn't like the short scene where the music made it impossible to hear the dialogue.
If it wasn't for these I would have given it 10 stars.
I would recommend this film to anyone who likes realistic and emotional drama.
There are some irritating edits in the football match & some of Tom's brother's lines aren't quite right. I also didn't like the short scene where the music made it impossible to hear the dialogue.
If it wasn't for these I would have given it 10 stars.
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