A Sense of Freedom
“They broke his body but not his spirit.”
Synopsis
The true story of Jimmy Boyle, who was reputed to be Scotland's most violent man.
Top Cast
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David Hayman
Jimmy Boyle
Bill Barclay
Bill
Martin Black
Bobbie Dugan
Alex Norton
Malkie
John Murtagh
Piper
Fulton Mackay
Inspector Davidson
Sean Scanlan
Jackie
Jim Boyce
Sgt. Bobbie
Monica Brady
Sheila
Jake D'Arcy
Robbie
Roy Hanlon
Chief Officer
Hector Nicol
Uncle Jody
P.H. Moriarty
Prison Warder
Lesley Mackie
Malkie's Wife
Alexander West
Ben
Frank Welshman
Barman
Kate Gardiner
Boyle's Mother
Jan Wilson
Mrs Docherty
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 18, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Mackenzie
- Screenplay & Story
- Peter McDougall, Jimmy Boyle
- Original Score
- Rory Gallagher, Frankie Miller
- Original Title
- A Sense of Freedom
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Handmade Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Mackenzie
Peter McDougall, Jimmy Boyle
Rory Gallagher, Frankie Miller
Chris Menges
Jeremy Isaacs, Raymond Day
Department Leadership Roster
Peter McDougall
Writer
Jeremy Isaacs
Producer
Tudor George
Costume Design
Jimmy Boyle
Writer
John Mackenzie
Director
Geoff Nixon
Production Design
Chris Menges
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Sense of Freedom.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring A Sense of Freedom.
Movie Collection
True Crime
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Scottish Movies
True Movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Sense of Freedom
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Sense of Freedom about?
The true story of Jimmy Boyle, who was reputed to be Scotland's most violent man.
Who directed A Sense of Freedom?
A Sense of Freedom was directed by John Mackenzie.
Who stars in A Sense of Freedom?
The principal cast of A Sense of Freedom includes David Hayman, Bill Barclay, Martin Black, Alex Norton, John Murtagh.
When was A Sense of Freedom released and how long is it?
A Sense of Freedom was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for A Sense of Freedom?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Sense of Freedom was composed by Rory Gallagher, Frankie Miller.
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Sense of Freedom?
A Sense of Freedom holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.).