Neds

Director Peter Mullan puts his life into this project, and we see glimpses of what seem to be bits and pieces of his own past life, though he begs to differ from this opinion.

It shows us the story of a bright young and talented boy, John McGill. He befriends Julian, his schoolmate, who hails from a middle class family. The friendship brings out the life John lives: of a meticulous student and of a young boy with a poor background. He has a father who remains inebriated most of the time, a mother who has completely withdrawn herself and a brother who always has a meet up with the federal operatives. The school too has teachers that are least interested in the students’ lives. But the most significant thing of all is the culture of the notorious gangs that has reached from the streets to the school corridors. But the question Neds is asking: can John do something to change the situation? Brilliantly acted and honest throughout, Neds takes you to the 70’s when questions would pop up every now and then.

Questions hit you hard one after the other, and you are forced to enter the mood where you start questioning your own behavior, ‘how would have I acted under the circumstances?’