Back in November we posted some news about the gripping British film Starred Up and today Tribeca Film has given those curious about the picture the first trailer. Starred Up is about ultra-violent 19-year-old Eric (Jack O’Connell) who is prematurely transferred to the same adult prison facility as his estranged father (Ben Mendelsohn). As his explosive temper quickly finds him enemies in both prison authorities and fellow inmates — and his already volatile relationship with his father is pushed past the breaking point — Eric is approached by a volunteer psychotherapist (Friend), who runs an anger management group for prisoners. Torn between gang politics, prison corruption, and a glimmer of something better, Eric finds himself in a fight for his own life, unsure if his own father is there to protect him or join in punishing him.
The captivating authenticity that David Mackenzie depicts in Starred Up is driven by a brilliant breakout performance by its young lead Jack O’Connell. It’s a uniquely detailed and intense immersion in a familiar yet original plot that spins on an axis of a father son relationship and the issues that besiege the British penal system. Check out the trailer below…
Written by prison system therapist Jonathan Asser, STARRED UP is a merciless, uncompromising portrayal of a dehumanizing life behind bars.
Starred Up stars Jack O’Connell (“Skins”, Angelina Jolie’s upcoming Unbroken), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises, The Place Beyond the Pines), and Rupert Friend (“Homeland”). Directed by David Mackenzie, Fox Searchlight (Shame, Ruby Sparks, The East, 12 Years A Slave) has slated the film for release this Summer starting on August 29th, 2014.
