'BOY': A Short Film Addressing Youth Mental Health Crisis
Screenwriter and director Angel Constantinou debuts with the poignant short film, 'BOY,' highlighting the challenging state of mental health care in Britain. The country is grappling with a youth mental health crisis, exacerbated by limited public resources for well-being support in schools. 'BOY,' in aid of Young Minds and Doitfordrayke, responds to the impact of suicide among children and young adults aged 10-24.
Angel Constantinou, a British artist with Greek/Egyptian heritage, drew on her own experiences to create this compelling fictional storyline. The film sheds light on the struggles of today's youth growing up amid unprecedented turbulence and uncertainty.
'BOY' follows the dark and poetic journeys of two boys with complex family backgrounds and broken parental relationships. The film's editing and cinematography, by Reiko Nagayoshi, slow down the audience's perception of time, emphasizing the intensity of the boys' experiences.
Constantinou's own life as a caregiver and a mother influences the film's narrative. The story features Sam (CJ Constantinou), a child carer with a disabled mother who is bullied at school by Rick (Taye Junaid-Evans). Rick, in turn, suffers physical abuse from his stepfather while his mother remains passive.
'BOY' delivers a powerful message about youth mental health struggles. The film will stream on Apple TV this summer and premiere at Vue Cinema, Piccadilly, London, on Sunday, 2nd June 2024.
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Watch the trailer below:
