Watch The Selfish Giant

The Selfish Giant is a 2013 British drama film directed by Clio Barnard, which tells the story of two young boys, Arbor and Swifty, who live in a poor area on the outskirts of Bradford. Arbor is impulsive, aggressive and has been expelled from school; Swifty is more passive and gentle, but poor and often subjected to bullying. The two boys become involved in the scrap metal trade, stealing copper and other metals and selling them to a local scrap dealer.

The film begins with Arbor getting into a fight at school, leading to his expulsion. He spends his days with Swifty, their main interest being looking for scrap metal to sell. They start off by taking some copper from a neighbor's home, which Arbor manages to sell to local scrap dealer Kitten (played by Sean Gilder). Kitten seems friendly and sympathetic towards the boys, but as the plot progresses, he becomes more exploitative and dangerous.

As the two boys continue to scrape a living from collecting and selling scrap materials, they become increasingly more involved in Kitten's criminal activities, which include dangerous behavior such as climbing into old mineshafts and stealing electrical cables. Kitten is happy to exploit the children's naivete and their desire to make some quick cash, and as he pays them very low amounts for the scrap metal they collect, the boys feel they need to take more risks to make more money.

Throughout the film, we see how adults in the area view the children as nothing more than a nuisance, with the local police and school authorities seemingly unable to provide proper support or guidance. This is emphasized by the adult characters' responses to the children's behavior: they are often shouting at, and shoving the children, making them feel unwanted and ignored.

The film takes a darker turn when Arbor, after being pushed to the edge by Kitten's callous disregard for their wellbeing, takes drastic action in a bid to get more money for them both. This leads to tragic consequences and forces both boys to confront the reality of their lives and to question their own character.

The Selfish Giant is a deeply affecting and powerful film that explores the often-difficult lives of young people living in poverty, giving voice and representation to a group of individuals usually ignored by mainstream media. It captures both the brutalities and the joys of childhood, and paints a complex picture of a society in which capitalist exploitation, police brutality, and child abuse are all prevalent.

The film is buoyed by strong performances, particularly from the two young leads Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas. They are able to convey the children's innocence and desperation with remarkable authenticity, bringing a rawness to the film that makes it hard to watch at times.

Throughout the film, the cinematography is used to great effect. A largely grey and desolate cityscape is used to create an atmosphere of isolation and hopelessness, with the few glimpses of beauty, such as a field of wildflowers, feeling like significant moments of light in a dark world. The use of close-ups and handheld camera work gives the film a documentary-like feel, creating an immediacy and intimacy with the characters and their lives.

In summary, The Selfish Giant is a thought-provoking and emotionally affecting film that tackles difficult social issues with sensitivity and nuance. The film is a testament to the strength of its young actors and director, who depict a hard reality of child exploitation in Northern England.

The Selfish Giant is a 2019 animated movie with a runtime of 5 hours.