If you enjoy heartwarming stories told realistically, The Selfish Giant is a great choice for a weekend movie night. This British drama, featuring a strong performance by Siobhan Finneran, is a moving coming-of-age story that received a lot of praise when it came out in 2013.
Clio Barnard’s film is a modern retelling of Oscar Wilde’s classic 1888 short story, set in Bradford. It centers on the lives of two teenage boys, Arbor, played by Conner Chapman, and Swifty, played by Shaun Thomas.
Growing unhappy with school and their future job options, the two friends start making money by stealing and selling copper to a tough scrap dealer named Kitten, played by Sean Gilder of Slow Horses. While it helps them get by, the work quickly becomes risky.
The drama stars Ralph Ineson and Finneran as Swifty’s struggling mother, and is now streaming on Curzon. You can access Curzon by adding it as a channel to your Prime Video account.
You can try Curzon for free for seven days, then it costs £6.99 a month. If you don’t want a subscription, you can rent the film on Prime Video for £3.49 or buy it for £9.99.
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When The Selfish Giant came out in theaters, critics loved it. Currently, 98% of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive, based on 84 critics. This makes it the best-reviewed film of director Finneran’s career.
Critics agree that The Selfish Giant is a powerfully moving and well-directed film, showcasing some of the finest work in contemporary British cinema thanks to its excellent script and strong acting.
Viewers have also praised the coming-of-age drama, giving it a rating of 7.3 out of 10 on IMDb based on over 13,000 reviews. One viewer gave it 8 out of 10 and compared it to Kes, a well-known drama from the 1960s by Ken Loach.
Okay, so I just finished watching this movie and wow, it’s seriously beautiful. The visuals really pull you into this harsh, uncertain world, but it’s not all doom and gloom – there’s actually a lot of heart and even some funny moments. It definitely reminded me of Kes, but this film feels even more complex. The world it’s set in is falling apart, and honestly, the characters are messed up and you’re not quite sure who to root for, which is kind of cool.
A second viewer praised the film’s genuine performances and script, saying they were key to its success. They also highlighted the excellent cinematography, describing the drama as both powerful and unforgettable.
Saoirse-Monica Jackson, nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the British Independent Film Awards for her work in a recent film, recently appeared as Fleur Edwards in an episode of the BBC detective series Death in Paradise.
The Selfish Giant is streaming now on Curzon.
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2026-04-04 21:49