The Boys are Back

Inspired by a true story, THE BOYS ARE BACK is a deeply moving, wryly confessional tale of fatherhood, that intimately evokes both the fragility and wonders of family life. It follows a witty, wisecracking, action-oriented sports writer who, in the wake of his wife’s tragic death, finds himself in a sudden, stultifying state of single parenthood.

This film was submitted to The Times 53^rd BFI London Film Festival . For more details please visit: click here

Clive Owen has many talents, he can be an action hero (remember he was nearly Bond), he can be a smooth criminal mastermind (The Inside Man) and now he can be a loveable dad. Based on a true storey of an Australian journalists memoirs this film is a true heart warmer, the second one at the festival I can recommend to my mum.

What is it I liked? Maybe I thought that it would be cool if I ever become a dad to take a leaf off this and work by the rule of ‘just say yes’. The forming of bonds in a family is easy for most, your mum is there and your dad is there, they always have been, mostly your mum though she is always there. Then something tragic can happen and she is not. You know your dad, course you do, but he is not the same as your mum, he does not make a sandwich like her, or make your bed like her. This is something that not only does a little boy of 6 have to learn, but also his dad.

Add into the mix a son from a previous marriage who lives 12,000 miles away, this is one complicated little situation. But with new responsibilities has to come a new focus. Work has now got to be combined with other activities, cooking cleaning, bedtime stories.

With this film you feel it is more documentary then fiction (it is not filmed doc style), based on a true story it captures your heart and projects this feeling of watching a man on the brink,drink, fight, run, panic, laugh, giggle, grow up and become a father. Sure there is that, but along the way there is also water bombs, junk food and out of control parties to lighten the mood and reminds us we all have many flaws.