Boy A (2008)

"Jack" has served his time for a violent crime committed when he was a child and, with the help of his case worker, he's got a place to live and a job lined up. Though he's eager to start his new life, his inexperience with the outside world and concern that he could be recognized result in an attitude of shy nervousness. He luckily gets paired at work with Chris, who surprises with his familiar yet empathetic nature. 

Meanwhile, we're getting flashbacks of Jack's lonely childhood. When he finally makes a friend, we understand how much of a lifeline that would've been for him -- how one other kid can become your whole world because they're the only one who knows you at all. In the company of friends, walking away from an obviously bad situation can feel like abandonment.

Andrew Garfield was quite good as Jack, but it's Peter Mullan as the case-worker and Shaun Evans as Chris who really make the story. They are the ones who allow us to have sky-high hopes for Jack because they support him, which is really what each of us needs to flourish.

B