A powerful and thought provoking drama set in 1970s Glasgow, written and directed by the critically acclaimed Peter Mullan and introducing extraordinary newcomer Conor McCarron (John McGill). Neds is already the winner of Best Film and Best Actor at the 2010 San Sebastian Film Awards and played in a Gala slot at the London Film Festival, where Conor McCarron was also nominated for Best British Newcomer.
Glasgow, 1973. On the brink of adolescence, young John McGill is about to start secondary school. He is a bright and sensitive boy, eager to learn, but the cards are stacked against him. The McGill family is working class. His hated father is a drunken bully. His teachers – punishing John for the ‘sins’ of his older brother Benny – are down on him from the start. John is on his own.
And then there are the gangs. The NEDS – Non-Educated Delinquents. The bad boys with weapons and attitude: cheap drugs, glam rock, fumbling sex, the violence and the camaraderie of the streets. Local monsters. Local heroes. Benny’s fearsome reputation buys John protection, and then a way in. Scared, resentful, full of rage, John makes his decision. If no one else will give him a chance: fuck them.
John takes to the savage life of the streets with a vengeance. But as his rage and frustration spin him further and further out of control, he is left facing a blank wall. No future. With one extraordinary chance of redemption.
NEDS will be released to theaters in the UK on January 21, 2011. Watch the trailer and check out the poster below.
