Toby MacDonald’s debut feature is a modern take on the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, set against the backdrop of an all-boys boarding school situated in the charming English countryside. The protagonist, Amberson (played by Alex Lawther, star of the hit show The End of the Fucking World), is a teenage nerd who often falls prey to his classmates’ jokes. But his life drastically changes with the appearance of the pretty and smart daughter of a visiting French teacher. In a sudden fit of emotion, Amberson decides to help a handsome schoolmate, a star athlete, win her over. A sweet but twisted love game begins and Amberson’s letters to the oblivious Agnes slowly start to reveal the truth about his own feelings. Old Boys is on the one hand a coming of age story filled with spot-on observations on growing up in a rough and tumble all-male environment. On the other hand it’s a funny and warm romantic comedy where teenage characters are just starting to discover the power of every heartbeat and romantic entanglement.
Toby MacDonald
Luke Ponte, Freddy Syborn
Nanu Segal
Andrew Hewit
Alex Lawther, Jonah Hauer-King, Pauline Etienne, Denis Ménochet, Joshua McGuire
UK/Sweden