The Selfish Giant

Friday, December 20 - Thursday, December 26, 2013

Adapted from an Oscar Wilde fable, Barnard’s (The Arbor) fiction debut evokes the work of Ken Loach and the Dardennes in a tale of two working-class British boys. Combative, hyperactive Arbor and his best friend Swifty begin “collecting” scrap metal for a shady dealer with a penchant for horse-cart racing. Arbor has a talent for business, but it’s the quieter Swifty, with an unexpected gift for horse training, who soon becomes the favorite. As jealousy sets in, the bond between the boys begins to crumble.

“Extraordinarily generous. Devastating in its simplicity and honesty, THE SELFISH GIANT is a colossus of feeling.” – Inkoo Kang, Village Voice

  • Country UK
  • Rating NR
  • Running Time 91 minutes
  • Director Clio Barnard

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.