Break (2020 film)
| Break | |
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.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Elkin |
| Written by | Michael Elkin |
| Starring |
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Release date |
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| Country | British |
| Language | English |
Break is a 2020 British independent film. Written and directed by Michael Elkin, it stars Sam Gittins, Jamie Foreman, Adam Deacon, Terri Dwyer, David Yip and Rutger Hauer in his final screen role. Snooker player cameos include Liang Wenbo, Jack Lisowski and 1997 World Snooker Championship winner Ken Doherty.[1]
Plot
 | This section needs an improved plot summary. (August 2020) |
A young snooker player is helped by a local gangster and a veteran Chinese pool champion to break free from a world of crime and reach the glittering lights of Beijing to play in a prestigious Chinese snooker tournament that could save his life. It has been described as "Rocky with a snooker cue".[2]
Cast
- Rutger Hauer as Ray
- Sam Gittins as Spencer
- Luke Mably as Terry
- Jamie Foreman as Monty
- Adam Deacon as Weasel
- Terri Dwyer as Cathy
- David Yip as Qiang
- Anna Danshina as Alexa
- Sophie Stevens as Shelley
Jack Lisowski, Ken Doherty and Liang Wenbo appeared as themselves.
Production
Filmed at locations including the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Beijing[3] and Canterbury Prison in Kent.[4]
Release
Although originally intended to be released in April 2020, it became the first UK movie to premiere via Drive-in when, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was released to coincide with the delayed 2020 World Snooker Championship. The premiere was held on 22 July 2020 at Brent Cross Drive-In Club in North London, the first premiere of its kind.[5]
Reception
The feature length film debut by Elkin was described as "impressive" by Reviews Hub London in which he throws "all the sports film clichés up in the air and rearranges them into a heart-warming story of working class aspiration, decency and the belief that whatever the social and economic circumstances talent can be realised". Also the "day depth in Elkin's characters adds considerably to the viewer’s empathy for and belief in Spencer as the story unfolds". Gittins performance as Spencer was also praised "a role that could easily have become a two-dimensional troubled youth refusing adult help and sulking. Instead Gittins gives a rounded characterisation".[6]
References
- ^ Macnab2020-02-22T06:00:00+00:00, Geoffrey. "7&7 takes rights to Rutger Hauer's final film, 'Break' (exclusive)". Screen.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Snooker's Big New Movie Break - "Rocky Style"..." April 27, 2020.
- ^ "Break - The Movie". World Snooker. July 18, 2020.
- ^ "Kent Film Office".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Independent thriller "Break" becomes first UK movie to premiere via drive-in". CelebMix. June 18, 2020.
- ^ "Film Review: Break". July 23, 2020.