Project Detail

Stuart A Life Backwards

Laurence Cendrowicz

Synopsis

When Stuart Shorter – a homeless alcoholic with a violent past – meets writer and charity worker Alexander Masters, they strike up an unlikely friendship. As Alexander learns more about Stuart’s complicated life and traumatic childhood, he asks if he can write his story and Stuart advises him to tell the story backwards, so that it's 'more exciting - like a Tom Clancy murder mystery'. As their remarkable alliance develops, Stuart gradually recounts his life story in reverse, his resilient personality and dry sense of humour giving the story an almost tragi-comic edge.

Through post-office heists, attempts at suicide and spells inside numerous institutions, Alexander is given a glimpse into a totally alien world and begins to understand how Stuart's life spiralled so badly out of control.

Details

Year: 2008
Type of project: Features
Running time: 90 mins
Format: 16mm
Director: David Attwood
Producer: Sam Mendes, Tara B Cook, Rupert Ryle-Hodges
Co-Producer: Sam Mendes, Tara B Cook, Rupert Ryle-Hodges
Editor: Pia Di Ciaula, St. John O' Rorke
Screenwriter: Alexander Masters
Director of Photography: Ulf Brantas
Production Designer: Donal Woods
Sound: Clive Derbyshire
Composer: Rob Lane
Principal cast: Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicola Duffett, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Adam Payne