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AKA

Play trailer Poster for AKA R Released Jan 19, 2002 2h 4m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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58% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Dean (Matthew Leitch), a lower-class British teen, is kicked out of his family home. Desperate to make a new start in high society, he secures work with the very upper-crust Lady Gryffoyn (Diana Quick). But Dean is soon back on the street, relocating to Paris under the identity of Gryffoyn's son. He finds friendship with hustler Benjamin (Peter Youngblood Hills) and his lover, David (George Asprey). But, with all the deception and romantic confusion, Dean's new life proves to be a struggle.

Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Steve Murray Atlanta Journal-Constitution As the movie goes on (and on), this triple-image effect ultimately starts to feel less effective than what a single, well-placed camera might convey. Rated: C+ May 20, 2004 Full Review Wesley Morris Boston Globe The three-panel format gives the digitally shot picture enormous psycho-emotional layering. Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 18, 2004 Full Review Steve Warren Southern Voice (Atlanta) Roy fictionalizes his own story into something approaching classic literature. As director, he gives it something extra by dividing the screen into three side-by-side panels... sometimes the variety of perspectives can be fascinating. Rated: 3/4 May 7, 2023 Full Review Dave White The Advocate Ambitious but messy. Jun 1, 2022 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Rated: 2/5 Jul 8, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Una historia de esas que atraen que no sabes si los personajes son villanos o héroes... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This is brilliant - something of the talented Mr. Ripley about this film, but a different vibe entirely. Definitely the talented Mr Leitch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A touching tale of a youngster who steals an identity and embarks on a adventure to high-class. But all does not go well.. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Another unnecessary plus pretentious screen splitting technique. Average in general, but the conjunctions could be better handled. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Always watchable yet ultimately self-defeating in terms of its tonal/aesthetic choices. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member AKA is writer/director Duncan Roy's thought-provoking memoir of his own youth. He escaped from a brutal, sexually abusive working-class household by assuming the identity of a young aristocrat and became famous - or notorious - in the process. Matthew Leitch is perfect as Dean, the handsome, sweet, innocently seductive young man who desperately wants a better or, to be more precise, another life. His intelligence, looks, charm, and manner make people want to believe he is who he says. All the actors are notable and entertaining. Aside from the fascinating story, imaginative photography done solely with available light, and perfect musical support, AKA is a scathing portrayal of the English class system, where aristocrats rely on certain cues (accent, name, manners, schooling, demeanor) to identify one another and preserve their exclusivity. Dean lives as 'one of them' successfully and happily for over a year. After which he says, quite truthfully if Mr. Roy's portrait of Alexander Gryffoyn is in any way accurate, that he was a better Lord Gryffoyn than the real one could ever be. Mr. Roy depicts a working class equally complicit in maintaining 'place' and limited social mobility. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
AKA

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Movie Info

Synopsis Dean (Matthew Leitch), a lower-class British teen, is kicked out of his family home. Desperate to make a new start in high society, he secures work with the very upper-crust Lady Gryffoyn (Diana Quick). But Dean is soon back on the street, relocating to Paris under the identity of Gryffoyn's son. He finds friendship with hustler Benjamin (Peter Youngblood Hills) and his lover, David (George Asprey). But, with all the deception and romantic confusion, Dean's new life proves to be a struggle.
Director
Duncan Roy
Producer
Richard West
Screenwriter
Duncan Roy
Distributor
Empire Pictures
Rating
R (Sexuality|Drug Use|Nudity|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 19, 2002, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 22, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA)
$48.1K
Runtime
2h 4m