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Give Them Wings

Give Them Wings is a 2022 British drama film directed by Sean Cronin and starring Daniel Watson, Toyah Willcox, Bill Fellows, Jacob Anderton, Katie Sheridan, Rachel Warren, Jonathan Hansler, Debra Stephenson, Tracey Wilkinson and Bruce Payne.

Give Them Wings
Directed bySean Cronin
Written byPaul Hodgson
Tony Waddington
Produced bySean Cronin
Paul Hodgson
Ian Carter
StarringDaniel Watson
Toyah Willcox
Bill Fellows
Jacob Anderton
Katie Sheridan
Rachel Warren
Jonathan Hansler
Debra Stephenson
Tracey Wilkinson
Bruce Payne
CinematographyTero Saikkonen
Edited bySean Cronin
Music byGuy Dagul
Production
companies
Magnificent Films
GTW Productions
Shaking the Tree Productions
Shooting Tiger Pictures
Release date
  • 1 August 2022 (2022-08-01)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$607

Plot

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The film tells the story of Paul Hodgson, who was left unable to speak or move after a bout of meningitis as a child.[1][2] The film explores how Paul 'made the best out of a bad situation'.[3]

Cast

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Production

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In order to raise funding for the film, the director, Sean Cronin, organised a football match in which former footballers competed against a team of celebrities.[10]

Reception

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Box office

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The film was a box office failure, earning just $607.00 worldwide.[11]

Critical reception

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John Higgins gave the film four out of five stars and stated that it focuses 'on the deeper feelings and issues of an under-represented demographic and, as a result, reveals a real insight and truth within a film that works well'.[12] Higgins also stated that 'Watson is brilliant in the lead role' and that Willcox delivers a 'revelation of a performance'.[12] Phil Hoad, who reviewed the film for The Guardian, gave the film a score of three stars out of five and described it as a 'disarmingly sincere autobiopic'.[13] Hoad also stated that director Cronin got 'supple, generous performances from his cast across the board' and that the film contained 'some of the innocence and goodwill of vintage British studio-era films'.[13] Richard Maguire awarded the film a score of three stars out of five.[14] Maguire stated that 'Sean Cronin’s film is ultimately a feel-good movie about a man overcoming his challenges, but along the way the journey is surprisingly dark'.[14] Maguire described Daniel Watson's portrayal of Paul as 'lively, funny and engaging'.[14] Maguire also stated that Toyah Willcox surprises as Paul's mother and that her 'hardworking and phlegmatic character' was a million miles from her first roles like Monkey in Quadrophenia or Mad in Derek Jarman’s Jubilee '.[14] The BBC's Neil Green described the film as 'very special'.[15] Louie Fecou stated that the film followed in the footsteps of My Left Foot and Billy Elliot and 'was often a very bleak piece of work'.[16] Nonetheless, Fecou stated that viewers who remembered 'the golden age of British film slice-of-life presentations' would 'find a lot to enjoy here'.[16] Graham Fuller gave the film a rating of three out of five stars and stated that it 'is a crowd-pleasing underdog with guts, grit and an admirable streak of unsentimental humour'.[17] Fuller was critical of 'Paul’s friendship with a neighbour who fancies himself an inventor (Jonathan Hansler and Debra Stephenson are irresistible as this hearty bloke and his narrow-minded wife)' being 'the source of a preposterous deus ex machina that leads to rapprochements'.[17] Nonetheless, Fuller conceded that although 'this requires one character to perform a volte-face that should have been foreshadowed much earlier, it’s intolerable to imagine Give Them Wings ending any other way than it does – on a high'.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Makeska, Marija (1 June 2015). "Sean Cronin interview- actor and director of Give Them Wings". CinemaJam. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. ^ Frost, Caroline (18 November 2014). "James Bond Villain Sean Cronin Turns Director To Tell Story of Disabled Writer Paul Hodgson In 'Give Them Wings'". HuffPost. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. ^ Kelly, Jo (4 November 2019). "Football fan's fight is finally film reality". Northern Echo. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ Morris, Joanna (22 February 2020). "Toyah Willcox to visit the region ahead of starring in film about Darlington man's life". Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Give Them Wings". Mandy. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  6. ^ Lockwood, Tasmin (18 June 2020). "Story of disabled Darlington fan flies to Venice Film Festival, down Oscar path". Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Vesna Pavan's paintings in 'Give them wings' film". Ansa. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  8. ^ Simpson, Ray (20 November 2019). "Come and be an extra in Give them Wings – and then play bingo with Toyah Willcox!". DarlingtonFC.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ^ "November 2019 News". Kirkham Henry. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  10. ^ Simpson, Ray (19 May 2019). "Give Them Wings Fundraiser". DarlingtonFC.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Give Them Wings". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  12. ^ a b Higgins, John (9 April 2021). "LIFF 2021 REVIEW: GIVE THEM WINGS". filmandtvnow.com. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b Hoad, Phil (25 July 2022). "Give Them Wings review – paean to Darlington FC and the power of compassion". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d Maguire, Richard (1 August 2022). "Film Review: Give Them Wings". thereviewshub. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Neil Green". Neil Green. 2 August 2022. BBC. BBC Radio Tees. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  16. ^ a b Fecou, Louie (6 August 2022). "Give Them Wings review – a very bleak piece of work". readysteadycut.com. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  17. ^ a b c Fuller, Graham (6 August 2022). "Give Them Wings review - down but not out in Darlington". theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
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