CRIMINAL British Film Showcase

A poetically haunting story about the loss of innocence and imagination in an indifferen’f world.
Based on the true story of Simon Willerton, who hanged himself in jail in 1990 at the age of seventeen,
this is a bittersweet, compelling and poignantly humorous piece of fiction which draws
you into the world of a free spirit whose final cry for help went unheard. Critically acclaimed for
his seamless portrayal, sixteen year old Paul Popplewell makes his film debut as Simon, a small
boy with thick glasses and an off beat sense of humor, exceptionally imaginative, gawky and
mildly retarded. After years of being beaten and bullied at school, he turns to petty thievery and,
eventually jailed for crimes which netted him less than £10, he ends his life.