Movie

Borstal Boy

“As a prisoner of war it is my duty to escape.”

★ 6.2(52)20011h 31m

Borstal Boy is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video in United States. It isn't on a subscription streaming service there yet. Availability checked 25 June 2026.

Where to watch Borstal Boy

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Good to know

Director: Peter Sheridan
Release date: 2001-03-22
Runtime: 1h 31m
Language: Irish
Box office: $87,400
Budget: $100,000
Status: Released
Country: United Kingdom
Studio: Dakota Films

Borstal Boy — trailer

About Borstal Boy

Borstal Boy is a 2001 movie in the Drama genre, directed by Peter Sheridan, starring Shawn Hatosy, Danny Dyer and Robin Laing. It has a runtime of 1 hour 31 minutes. It holds an average rating of 6.2/10 from 52 viewers. Below you can see where to watch Borstal Boy in United States — across streaming, rental and purchase options — along with the full cast, trailer and viewer reviews.

Synopsis

Brendan Behan, a sixteen year-old IRA foot soldier, is going on a bombing mission from Ireland to Liverpool during the second world war. His mission is thwarted when he is apprehended, charged and imprisoned in Borstal, a reform institution for young offenders in East Anglia, England.

Cast

Shawn Hatosy

Brendan Behan

Danny Dyer

Charlie Milwall

Robin Laing

Jock

Ian McElhinney

Verreker

Eva Birthistle

Liz Joyce

Mark Huberman

Mac

Lee Ingleby

Dale

Ronnie Drew

Customs man

Eamon Glancy

Manning

Dennis Conway

Holmes

Patricia Leventon

Landlady

John O'Toole

Whitbread

Themes & keywords

homophobiabullyingliverpool, englandcoming of agecross dressingaccidental deathira (irish republican army)based on memoir or autobiographyteenage boyreform schoolnorfolk1940sborstalgay themegay teenager