THE SELFISH GIANT New Auteurs

Inspired by the children she met in Bradford in northern England when researching her previous acclaimed documentary, THE ARBOR, Clio Barnard creates a moving tale that combines fairytale with contemporary reality. Arbor is a feisty menace who rejects his meds and roams the streets with his mellow best friend, Swifty. After a fight at school, the duo is expelled and seems as forsaken as the desolate countryside surrounding them. The boys turn to illegally collecting scrap metal for Kitten, a greedy dealer obsessed with horse races. Arbor is eager to please and emulate Kitten, but Kitten is quickly taken by Swifty’s connection to horses. Failed by their parents, the educational system and society in general, Arbor and Swifty face challenging scenarios that will test their friendship and loyalty. Armed with striking cinematography and unforgettable performances from the untrained leads, A SELFISH GIANT continues Barnard’s exploration of the dangers of neglecting children and presents a memorable story of a society that sifts through garbage in search of hope and opportunity.