Responsible Child (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews (13)

Responsible Child

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 17 December 2019]

This docudrama is certainly inspired by dramas made by Ken Loach for the BBC back in the 1960s.

Whereas Loach even now continues to look at the flawed social welfare system. Director Nick Holt places the spotlight in Britain's justice system and how it deals with child offenders.

In England and Wales, children as young as 10 can be tried for murder and treated as if they were adults in an adult court. It is one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility and has attracted criticism from the United Nations for breaching the Rights of a child.

Based on true events. 12 year old Ray (Billy Barratt) along with his older brother, Nathan who is 23 years of age are accused of murdering their stepfather in a frenzied knife attack.

The stepfather was a violent brute. The viewer see the events that led to killing as well as the trial.

The film is a troubling polemic. Ray has been let down by social workers as well as his mother. The judge at the trial has lifted reporting restrictions. The judge does not seem sympathetic that one of the accused is a young child. The prosecuting barrister takes little heed of the age of the person he is cross examining. It might not be common or required but I have actually seen warnings given to lawyers in the civil courts when they cross examine children and told to be careful of their conduct.

Ray is sensitively portrayed by 12 year old Billy Barratt. Holt wants to highlight the plight of children accused of serious crimes. I guess some older viewers might be less sympathetic to the issues raised. They would be aware of the Jamie Bulger murder in the early 1990s by two young children.

Gripping

[nezbitkn2 · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

A very heartfelt and look at our failing country and justice system. Depends which side of it the fence you sit on I suppose. Only disappointing thing for me was a lack of scenery around the actual murder so that the viewer can see what the jury see's as well as a typical 'based on a true story' update at the end on where all involved are currently and how they are doing. Otherwise a decent portrayal of an horrific moment in their lives.

Brilliant acting from young talent

[gallacherj · 8/10 · 21 April 2021]

Very difficult watch but we'll made. I can imagine there are judges and prosecutors that get away with the stern questioning and unsympathetic approach.

Another reviewer mentions the Jamie bulger murder and whilst I mentioned this after finishing the programme, it was the stark contrast to the two monsters who hurt and killed a small child. To a small child who had been let down by all around him.

This covers the people who tried and those who could h e helped the family and didn't. This shows how far people will go when they feel there is no other option.

An interesting and almost factual dramatization of a real murder case

[rooster_davis · 6/10 · 12 August 2023]

"Responsible Child" is based on the actual case of two brothers, Jerome Ellis age 14 and his brother Joshua, 23, who stabbed their abusive stepfather Neil Tulley to death in 2013 in England.

This is a very well-acted film, particularly considering that it is a 'made for TV' film. Billy Barratt, the young actor who plays the lead role of the younger brother, is absolutely believable in his part. In 2020 at the age of 13 he won the International Emmy Award for Best Performance By An Actor, the youngest person ever to receive the award - especially impressive as the category is not based on age. (Four years earlier, that award went to Dustin Hoffman.) All the roles are very believably acted but Barratt's was by far the toughest and most important of the film. He absolutely came across from the screen as the scared and withdrawn child he played in the film.

Films with a story such as this one have an innate 'hook' to them - an ordinary person finds themselves in extraordinary circumstances. The fact that this one concerns a schoolboy compounds that fact.

I find it an interesting point that young Barratt was apparently about the same age (12) during filming of "Responsible Child" as the character he portrayed. It seems to me that nobody playing a movie role is ever the same age. Teenagers and high school student roles are frequently acted by people well into their 20's. For me, having the actor's age match the role adds credibility and believability to their characterization.

I do question why the producer of the film chose to stay true to the facts of the actual case but lowered the age of the younger brother in the film to 12, instead of 14 which was the reality. Perhaps he was trying to make a point that the same situation could have happened to a 12 year old as happened in real life to a 14 year old? In England a child as young as 10 can be charged as an adult in a serious crime and tried in regular full court.

The film's point is that the UK should re-examine its laws regarding child criminals and the age at which they should be held responsible. I would agree with that with the exception that not all child criminals are just good kids who were driven to do bad things as was the case here. There are legions of juveniles convicted of murder, who have criminal records as repeat offenders including for prior violent crimes. There certainly must be distinction made in how children are treated in the courts, depending on past circumstances and the individual situation. A 14 year old who kills for thrill is not the same as one who snaps after being abused by a drunken step-parent. It is not my intent here to preach or editorialize, but to comment on the message expressed by the film.

While this movie didn't exactly move me to tears as it apparently did for some, that is not in any way a criticism. It's a compelling re-enactment of a real-life tragedy, and Billy Barratt did a tremendous job playing the role. You can't help but feel empathy for the character he plays as a juvenile charged with murder.

Superb!

[philpotts-61235 · 9/10 · 18 June 2021]

This is not an easy watch but it is well worth the effort. I caught it by chance, in BBC IPlayer. Billy Barrett is already a terrific young actor, and rightly steals the limelight from the more experienced cast. A terrific BBC production.

Very moving

[aimeemcdonald-55532 · 10/10 · 4 May 2021]

I was left sobbing and in bits. Billy Barrett is a true actor with a bright future.

A tragic story so brilliantly told.

An interesting and deep watch

[megan-campbell31 · 9/10 · 21 December 2019]

Firstly fantastic acting by Billy Barrett what an excellent portrayal of a difficult role. Makes you question your own beliefs and the law. Would recommend it.

BBC Drama at its finest?

[sl-15821 · 9/10 · 17 December 2019]

Based on true events, the story shown here is likely to shock some viewers. Excellent performances from all involved, especially the incredible portrayal of Ray, by Billy Barratt. This story will stay in your thoughts long after the credits have rolled.

Gripping

[mattman_spurs · 8/10 · 30 May 2020]

A thought provoking, moving, deep and heartbreaking show from the BBC. Really nicely done. Sad state of reality about the criminal justice system in this country.

The Only Made For TV Film I'd Recommend

[mshimek-65929 · 9/10 · 17 April 2022]

An American viewer here. I didn't know much about the "crown" system and how children this young could be tried as adults in the UK. I had read that the lead actor playing Ray, Billy Barratt, won an International Emmy for Best Actor for this role and I figured that they didn't give those out to just anyone. I'd say that he earned it.

It was heartbreaking throughout. You can tell he was doing more than repeating learned lines. There seemed to be a building tension of Ray being overwhelmed from not knowing what was going to happen next and being separated from his brother. A few scenes broke me for a bit. I don't know how much of this was fictionalized and how much really happened. It made me wonder if the actor needed a few therapy sessions afterwards.

Made for TV films in my country are usually terrible, so it is indeed the only one I'd recommend.

Great BBC Drama

[andrewpeterbrindley · 8/10 · 15 January 2020]

Gripping look at the justice system in England and Wales

Truly remarkable

[zara-jane-qadry · 10/10 · 30 October 2021]

I feel so sad that this movie is a docudrama. The character was acted so well, i feel so sorry for the boy even though the murder was brutal. A child is a child and shouldn't be tried as an adult, especially someone so young but had to takeover as a caregiver for the family.

Raw food for thought

[michaljagu · 9/10 · 18 December 2021]

One of those dramas where you feel that rating it good and saying what you liked about it makes you feel inappropriate.

For such production and the story it's based on, there is no other way to do it best than make it as raw as could be. Everything seems so trivial - I mean cast, dialogues, scenes, yet it is the whole clue - to make you feel that such tragedy can happen any time. Emotional impact is clearly based on viewer's sensitivity and it got me completely. The only thing I was missing was just few closing conslusions, that human extreme emotions are way above justice being served basing mostly on words and other people's points of view. Nobody can even imagine how would he act while being in other's shoes, because person who judges, and exact same person who would be put in the same situation, are actually two totally different people.