'' is a
2004 film and book written by
Frank Cottrell Boyce . It was originally written solely as a screenplay, but Cottrell Boyce then decided to adapt it into a novel while the film was in the process of being made. The book was awarded the
Carnegie Medal , and formed an integral part of the annual ''Liverpool Reads'' campaign in Cottrell Boyce's home city. The film version was directed by
Danny Boyle , and stars
Alexander Etel ,
Lewis McGibbon , and
James Nesbitt .
Damian Cunningham (Etel), a deeply spiritual young boy in
Manchester ,
Great Britain , is dealing with his Mother's recent death. He is frequently visited by his favorite
Saint s, who advise him on how to do good in his community. When a bag holding over £200,000
Sterling falls from the sky onto his backyard fort, he assumes it to be a gift from
God . His
Pragmatic brother Anthony (McGibbon) convinces him not to tell anyone else (he doesn't want it to be taxed), and Damian sets about trying to do good with the found money, giving it to charities and the poor. When he finds that the money was actually stolen, he worries that the source of the money taints all of the good deeds done with the money. The film takes place in the weeks leading up to the (fictitious) decommission of the
British Pound for the
Euro , after which the found money will become worthless.
The story explores issues of poverty and affluence, and the place of individuals within them. Damian's family moves to a large house in an affluent suburb, where they meet various characters who are developed to reflect various aspects of society.
The police officer tells everyone in the "community" that some of them will be burgled and there's not much that can be done about it. He frequently states in a matter-of-fact way the complete powerlessness of authority, offering only nearly symbolic attempts at retribution and justice, but completely unable to prevent crime or deter it in any significant way.
A small commune of
Latter Day Saints tells the residents of the suburb that the only reason they would be burgled is because they haven't given everything away to begin with. The group live in voluntary poverty with no amenities, until an unknown person (Damian) leaves them large amounts of money in the middle of the night. They then proceed to purchase many luxuries, including a microwave oven, digital television, etc. This theme of money's corruption of innocence is exemplified by one of the characters telling Damian that if he gave the poor money they wouldn't be poor anymore, and then what he would do, take it back?
Damian's brother Anthony uses money to buy power for himself by paying class mates to be his "gang", and to impress girls in his classroom.
In the end his monetary "gift from God" turns out to bring misery to everyone it touches.
The movie is a commentary on the horrendousness of world poverty (particularly in Africa) as well as the spiritual poverty of affluence. In the final scene we see Damian's dream of the family flying a rocket ship to Africa and helping develop water wells, which earlier in the movie is shown to be the most crucial and easiest/cheapest way to drastically improve the quality of life for most African communities.
As the tagline asks, "Is anyone good?", the movie poses the age old question of what would you do with large amounts of money? Damian, after trying to help people with it, chooses to let it burn.
Also view the
Millions Synopsis at FilmFantastic Film Festival
