Stevenage may not initially come across as the most promising of film locations, but it is the central inspiration for Boston Kickout, Paul Hills' debut feature.

The £1 (US.1.5) million film follows four youths growing up in the English new town, 40km north of London. Hills, brought up there, chose Stevenage as the setting for his film in an attempt to portray his version of contemporary Britain: a displaced population with inadequate work opportunities or social facilities for the young people.

Boston Kickout centres on Phil (24-year-old newcomer John Simm), who comes to Stevenage with his father in the late 70s in an attempt to escape the inner city slums. Their dream soon crumbles.

Phil finds

himself stranded in a bewildering world of unemployment, violence, alcoholism and drug abuse. Falling in with petty criminals, Phil becomes torn between two lifestyles when his visiting Irish cousin (Emer McCourt) encourages him to follow his dreams of becoming a photographer.

It was through sheer determination that Hills managed to get his first feature developed and produced in under a year, hugely helped by the enthusiasm and energy of a crew whose average age was under 30 and who worked for little financial reward - and, jokes Hills, even less sleep.

Monika Maurer

Prods: Paul Hills, Tedi de Toledo

Exec prods: Paul Trijbits, Danny Cannon

Dir: Paul Hills

Scr: Paul Hills, Diane Whitley, Roberto Troni

Ph: Roger Bonnici

Ed: Melanie Adams Prod

des: Simon Elliott

Music: Robert Hartshorne

Costume: Lee Sowerbutts

Cast: John Simm, Andrew Lincoln, Nathan Valente, Richard Hanson, Marc Warren

Running time: 105 mins

Screenings: 22 June, 12.00, Lucerna; 25 June, 22.00, Praha; 27 June 15.00, Blanik

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