Watch Boston Kickout

Boston Kickout is a British independent film directed by Paul Hills, released in 1995. It tells the story of a group of teenagers growing up in suburban England and struggling to cope with their lives. The film starts with a group of four friends, Jimmy (John Simm), Piggy (Ben Marshall), Gadget (Andrew Lincoln), and Titch (William Ash), hanging out in a youth club in a small town outside of Birmingham. They are all working-class kids with limited prospects, and their days are filled with drinking, smoking, and fighting.

The main character, Jimmy, is a troubled teenager who lives with his abusive father (John Thomson) and his disabled mother (Rita May). He has a talent for football, but his dreams of becoming a professional player are shattered when he is caught with a stolen car and sent to a juvenile detention centre.

While he is in jail, Jimmy develops a relationship with a girl named Ruby (Emer McCourt), who is also from a broken home. When he is released, Jimmy finds himself struggling to adjust to life on the outside, and he turns to Ruby for comfort. However, their relationship is soon tested when Ruby's ex-boyfriend, Joe (Marc Warren), comes back into the picture.

The film explores the complex relationships between the characters, who are all dealing with their own issues. Piggy is grappling with a drug addiction and his growing feelings for Titch, while Gadget is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Titch, the youngest of the group, is trying to find his place and his voice in a world that doesn't seem to care about him.

Despite their differences, the four friends are bound together by their shared experiences and their love for each other. They share many moments of laughter and joy, but they also experience heartbreak and tragedy.

Boston Kickout is a grittily realistic portrayal of working-class life in the 1990s. The film tackles issues such as poverty, abuse, addiction, and homophobia with frankness and sensitivity. The performances of the cast are outstanding, particularly John Simm as Jimmy, who brings depth and nuance to a complex character.

The film also features a strong soundtrack, with songs from British indie bands like Radiohead, Elastica, and Pulp. The music adds a sense of urgency and energy to the film, and helps to capture the mood of the era.

Overall, Boston Kickout is an important and thought-provoking film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience. It offers a powerful and emotional insight into the lives of young people in the UK, and raises important questions about class, identity, and the struggles of growing up. It is a testament to the talent of Paul Hills and the actors involved, and remains an important part of British cinema history.