Press enter after choosing selection

Lad: A Yorkshire Story

by ballybeg

A truly lovely film, Lad: A Yorkshire Story, will make you fall in love with the Dales. Slow, sweeping views of the hills and valleys, provide a natural remedy for the turmoil of the story, and the world. The landscape is a strong presence throughout the film, and plays a role in soothing the souls of all the characters. That landscape is distinctly of Yorkshire, as the title suggests, but Lad is, ultimately, an archetypal tale, of relating to one's place and family of origin, of finding resolution and peace in your own backyard.

The film is notable for its simplicity. Very low-budget, using local settings and almost unknown actors, with no computer enhancements or special effects, the result is a triumph for the writer/director, Dan Hartley, and the cast, all Yorkshire born and bred.

Lad is a classic coming-of-age story, but with a fresh, original face, and such a sweet, unassuming style, that it never appears sentimentalized or maudlin. Young Tom’s world is falling apart and he is saved by love and friendship, which he finds in familiar and new places. Simple. But intricate and heartbreaking, fragile and surprising. Would that every troubled 13-year-old could find solace working outside under the guidance of a wise, seasoned park ranger. Would that we all could.

I almost stopped watching Lad after about ten minutes. It starts slow and deliberate, and I couldn’t tell where it was going, and there are no subtitles to help decipher the accents, and no one told me that it would turn into one of the sweetest, most satisfying stories ever. Now I am so glad I saw it.

Comments

Thanks for that review! I seem to love any film made within a short distance of the North Sea! This sounds like a great one...checking it out now :)

Thanks for the suggestion! I enjoyed the movie. Too bad it had no subtitles, as I would have liked to recommend it to someone with hearing loss.

Graphic for blog posts

Blog Post