- Actors: David Hayman, Jake D'Arcy, Sean Scanlan, Alex Norton, John Murtagh
- Directors: John Mackenzie
- Writers: Jimmy Boyle, Peter McDougall
- Producers: Jeremy Isaacs, Raymond Day
- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Anchor Bay
- DVD Release Date: 28 Aug 2006
- Run Time: 81 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000GL17DC
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 39,108 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Germany released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: TV film. Based on the life of convicted murderer, Jimmy Boyle, whose violence in jail leads to his being classed dangerous and to solitary confinement. Frankie Miller, Rory Gallagher (Music) Peter McDougall (Writer) Jeremy Isaacs (Prod.) ...A Sense of Freedom
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Absolutely uncompromising "tough as nails" 1979 gangster film about real life Scottish hoodlum Jimmy Boyle, is a real sleeper, but well worth seeking out !! Directed by talented UK director John Mackenzie, I think "A Sense of Freedom" was somewhat overshadowed by Mackenzie's equally impressive and more highly publicised film "The Long Good Friday" released the following year.
Mackenzie deserves a pat on the back for giving the British crime cinema a well deserved double shot of testosterone, at a time when it was fairly dormant.
Dynamic actor, David Hayman is simply sensational as the anti-social & violent Jimmy Boyle. Boyle and his gang are running protection & money lending rackets in Glasgow in the 1960's and falling foul of the law every step of the way. Boyle is convicted for a heinous crime and sent inside the Scottish prison system where he declares a brutal war on the guards & administration of each prison. However, Boyle begins to take stock of the damage & futility of his hostile actions, and the film then takes a surprising turn !!
"A Sense of Freedom" certainly won't be for everyone's tastes as there are numerous violent confrontations, and in one scene, Boyle takes to "decorating" his cell in a most disgusting manner. However, those film fans looking for a first class prison drama, with a believable cast, that really delivers the goods will not be disappointed.
I'm so glad to see this film finally out on DVD, as I think my 20 year old VHS copy is just about worn out ! Most definitely a "must have" addition to your library of crime films....
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A fairly faithful adaptation of Jimmy Boyle's autobiography - or at least the second half of it. This is essentially the story of Boyle's life of crime as a "hard man" (although we miss out on the extensive description of his childhood in the Gorbals) and the Scottish prison system's attempt to tame him. Ironically, Boyle was imprisoned for life for a crime he probably didn't commit... although he walked free from many he did...
Prison after prison fails to break Boyle's spirit; the physical beatings he received and the isolation to which he was subjected served to turn his mind inwards and focus his hatred.
Before too long, Boyle was too dangerous for any prison to handle; the only solution being to transfer him to the "Special Unit" at Barlinnie where instead of trying to break prisoners down by force - or by drugs - the emphasis was on trying to rehabilitate violent criminals.
The film ends with Jimmy's transfer to Barlinnie, where Boyle discovered his affinity for art and started the transformation that saw him become an acclaimed sculptor.
David Hayman's performance as Boyle in this film is powerful and subtle - he's a "hard man" who wants no part of any system, a man trying to come to terms with the animal in himself and with the degradation around him. It's a visceral, physically courageous performance.
The DVD transfer of the film itself is pretty poor - colour and sound are somewhat murky. However, the DVD is accompanied by an excellent documentary about Boyle's new life, and his use of sculpture as a measns of therapy for other long-term prisoners.
Sobering, powerful and highly watchable.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw this movie in 1985 and have not been able to purchase in Australia then I found it on Amazon and bought it. It arrived 2 weeks after I ordered it and I have watched it about 4 times,( would have been more but I had to go to Europe ). I am impressed with the service and performance of Amazon UK and would highly reccomend them to anyone
Most Recent Customer Reviews
ENDED TOO SOON
GOOD GRITTY FILM BASED ON A TRUE STORY
IT ENDED TO SOON THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN HIM IN THE SPECIAL UNIT
IF YOU LIKE REALITY FILMS THIS IS FOR YOU
IT ENDED TO SOON THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN HIM IN THE SPECIAL UNIT
IF YOU LIKE REALITY FILMS THIS IS FOR YOU
Published on 22 Jun 2008 by A. Girvan
Dubbed version
This is a 5 star plus film but this 2006 dvd version
is dubbed all they had to do was subtitle it for non
scottish people to understand but no they took the... Read more
is dubbed all they had to do was subtitle it for non
scottish people to understand but no they took the... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2007 by Clattybrown
a sense of freedom.
A sense of freedom is about the only biography about a gangster from glasgow lets face it the only real other good crime films to come from scotland are small faces trainspotting... Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2005 by Rab Hughes Fae Glesga
A Sense Of Freedom
A Sense Of Freedom is a brlliant film about Jimmy Boyle.
it all starts off on the gritty streets of Glasgow in 1964. Read more
Published on 12 July 2005 by "wwwshaunkenny13"
Sense of freedom
This is and always was a powerful film, great scottish actors and scenery.My only gripe was the wattered down Glasgow Dialect, I saw the original film back in 79 when the accents... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2005 by "huskyian"
I SEE U JIMMY
THIS FILM IS A CLASSIC,A SHOCKING TRUE STORY OF ONE MANS FIGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEM.I SEE THIS MANY YEARS AGO AND IT STILL ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I HAVE SEEN. Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2003 by "danny6494"
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