Son of Rambow (2007)

Director:

Garth Jennings

Writer:

Garth Jennings (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Make Believe. Not War.

Plot:

During a long English summer in the early 1980s, two schoolboys from differing backgrounds set out to make a film inspired by First Blood (1982).

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | School | French | Copy | 1980s

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Neil Dudgeon	...	Joshua
Bill Milner	...	Will Proudfoot
Jessica Hynes	...	Mary Proudfoot (as Jessica Stevenson)
Anna Wing	...	Grandma
Will Poulter	...	Lee Carter
Tallulah Evans	...	Jess Proudfoot
Emilie Chesnais	...	French Teacher (as Emile Chesnais)
Paul Ritter	...	Geography Teacher
Finola McMahon	...	Gail Graham
Rachel Mureatroyd	...	Marie Plante
Taylor Richardson	...	David Smart
Peter Robinson	...	Lucas Dupont
Charlie Thrift	...	Duncan Miller
Jules Sitruk	...	Didier Revol
Sam Kubrick-Finney	...	Danny

Also Known As:

Der Sohn von Rambow (Germany)
Le fils de Rambow (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and reckless behavior.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

France | UK | Germany

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | Ireland:12A | Australia:PG | UK:12A | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43681) | Sweden:7 | Netherlands:6 | New Zealand:PG | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Hammer & Tongs

Trivia:

Between his audition and the start of the shoot, James Clarke's hair was cut off, which was a surprise to the production (11:00 in the DVD commentary). Rather than having him wear a wig, it was decided that his character, "Shaun", could be shorn.

Goofs:

Continuity: About midway through the movie, during the "flying dog" scene, the sky can be seen changing from cloudy to blue to cloudy again, almost immediately. Although this can happen in Britain quite often, even in that part of the world it can't happen *that* fast.

Quotes:

Will: O my God, I've come to say thank you for your love today. Thank you for my family and all the friends you give to me. Guard me in the dark of night, and in the morning, send your light. Amen.

Movie Connections:

Features "Screen Test" (1970)

Soundtrack:

E lucevan le stelle

Exceeded expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It helped that I'd been warned to expect something a little more substantial than just a Rambo spoof (apparently suggested by trailers and bus advertising), which is possibly why my flatmate's boyfriend didn't enjoy it.

That doesn't mean though that guys won't enjoy this film as much as my girlfriends and I did. It follows similar themes to 'Stand by Me' (the classic starring River Phoenix), such as childhood loyalty and comradeship, but in a typically British fashion with understated humour, quirky comedy, and some nice references to 80s Britain.

Genuine laugh out loud moments, poignant and uplifting, and it can also just be appreciated as a well made film, with good acting, dialogue and direction.