London Film Festival

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Son of Rambow - Preview

Son of Rambow

Preview by Jack Foley

WHILE everyone awaits the latest Rambo instalment from Sylvester Stallone with baited breath, a new British film could prove to equal appeal to Rambo fans and sceptics alike.

Son of Rambow, from director Garth (The Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy) Jennings, is a charming little movie that has been impressing audiences on the festival circuit since debuting at Sundance in 2007. It was one of the audience favourites at last year’s London Film Festival, too, and is generating some positive word of mouth ahead of its April 4 release.

The film takes place over the course of a long English summer in the early 80’s as two boys are about to form an unlikely friendship. Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) has been brought up in a strictly religious household, forbidden to watch TV or listen to music.

But after Lee Carter (Will Poulter), the school trouble-maker, blows Will’s mind with a pirate copy of Rambo: First Blood, Will’s easily persuaded to act in Lee’s home-made movie sequel. Armed only with a camera – “borrowed” from Lee’s brother – and their limitless imagination, the pair plot stunt after stunt, dodging teachers and family all the way, as they do whatever it takes to finish their masterpiece in time to enter it in the national Screen Test competition.

When it played at the London Film Festival last year, organiser Sandra Hebron was moved to write: “There’s something quintessentially English about Jennings’ film – it’s charmingly eccentric, funny and warm, and moving without ever overplaying its sentiment – but that didn’t stop a bidding war breaking out over the film in Sundance this year.

“As visually inventive as you’d expect (sketchbook animations and flying dog slapstick for starters), and with terrific performances from its junior cast, this is an immensely likeable and perceptive gem.”

It’s evidence of the film’s universal appeal, however, that it has been able to win fans all over the world and it could well emerge as one of the finest British films of 2008. It’s funny, touching and frequently inspired and you should really put it on your viewing list when April comes around. We will, of course, have more on it then.

Now… about Rambo …