HALLAM FOE

Year: 2007
USA: Magnolia Pictures
UK: Buena Vista International UK
Cast: Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Claire Forlani, Ciaran Hinds, Jamie Sives, Maurice Roëves, Ewen Brenner, Ruthie Milne, John Paul Lawler, Lucy Holt, Malcolm Shields, John Comerford, Gerry Cleary, Paul Blair, Neil McKinven, Stuart Hepburn, Kirsty Shepheard
Director: David Mackenzie
Country: UK
USA & UK: 96 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains very strong language and strong sex
USA Release Date: tbc
UK Release Date: 31 August 2007

UK Distributor

Synopsis

Hallam Foe (Jamie Bell) is haunted by his mother's mysterious death. Did she drown herself, or was she pushed? Hallam has evidence which he believes implicates Verity (Claire Forlani)- his alluring, feline stepmother. Yet his own methods for uncovering secrets are no less devious. From his treetop hideout, or sneaking through his father's (Ciaran Hinds) decaying Scottish mansion, Hallam spies on people. Most of all, he spies on Verity. The more he becomes obsessed with her guilt, the more his attraction to her grows. When Verity confronts him, Hallam is helpless to resist her seductive power. His only resort is to flee the family nest.

Alone and penniless, Hallam leaves the Scottish Highlands and crashes down into reality. But as he wanders the unforgiving streets of Edinburgh, he discovers another use for his peculiar skill. Catching a glimpse of Kate (Sophia Myles), a young woman who looks uncannily like his mother, he follows her back to the hotel where she works, and talks his way into a job. Life begins to look up for Hallam. By day he discovers friends among social outcasts, and by night he does what he loves best - clambering over city roofs, spying on people in all their hilarious strangeness. He also finds a new hideaway from where he can watch Kate at home in her rooftop apartment, gazing through her window with his binoculars.

But Hallam's bittersweet dreams are shattered when he discovers Kate is involved in a seedy liaison with Alasdair (Jamie Sives), the hotel manager. Not only that but Alasdair realises they are being watched. It takes a chance encounter with Kate, and another twist of Hallam's cunning, for him to break up the affair; despite having to expose himself in the process. Yet Kate eventually overcomes her initial disgust and begins to fall for her peeping Tom, joining Hallam on his loopy rooftop vigils.

It cannot last. Just as Kate seems to accept Hallam for who he is, his old demons float inexorably back to the surface. Verity and his father have tracked him down and they want Hallam to sign away the family inheritance and betray the memory of his mother. This is the final insult for Hallam and the vindication he needs to exact his revenge.

Directed and co-written by David Mackenzie, HALLAM FOE is Jamie Bell's first starring role in a UK film since BILLY ELLIOT. Co-starring Sophia Myles (TRISTAN + ISOLDE, THUNDERBIRDS), Claire Forlani (MEET JOE BLACK) and Ciaran Hinds (MUNICH), HALLAM FOE is co-written by Ed Whitmore and based on the novel by Peter Jinks. HALLAM FOE was filmed over an eight week period on location in Edinburgh and Peeblesshire and in studios in Glasgow in the spring of 2006.