Drama

Give Them Wings

Drama

Based on the heart-rending true story of wheelchair user Paul Hodgson.

Year

2022

Duration

1h 52m

IMDb

6.2

Trailer

Cast

Sean Cronin

Director

Daniel Watson

Paul Hodgson

Toyah Willcox

Alice Hodgson

Bill Fellows

Norman Hodgson

Jacob Anderton

Ian Carter

Katie Sheridan

Jane

Rachel Warren

Karen

Jonathan Hansler

Ernest Hogg

Debra Stephenson

Ethel Hogg

Bruce Payne

Dr. Markum

Sean Cronin

Daniel

Tracey Wilkinson

Marion Carter

Simeon Willis

Young Norman

Dominic Weatherill

Richard

Steve Wraith

Sean

Liam Rock

Steve

Dan Dobson

Ticket Seller

TA

Trevor Agnew

Postman

Paige Alexandra

Nurse Elliot

Sean Cronin

Writer

PH

Paul Hodgson

Writer

TW

Tony Waddington

Writer

Explore More

Discover partner platforms for games, short dramas, and more entertainment.

Gaming

Gamixo

Play top free games online — action, puzzle, and casual titles.

Short Drama

VSKIT Drama

Watch short-form dramas and vertical series on VSKIT.

Comments

7 comments

shazia Mar 12, 2025

I read the book Flipper's side so I knew the story well enough. More than half of that book is about the author's adventures following Darlington Fc home and away, season after season and to be honest is a pretty dry read, mentioning various matches, who scored and what the results were. Content which is understandably barely scratched at in this film which concentrates mainly on the struggles of a disabled man trying to overcome the trials of having an unloving father who all but abandoned him, a mother who suffered a stroke, trying get a job, his relationship with his mother's female carer and one of his multiple suicide attempts. The film also omits huge portions of his complex family from his mother's 2 marrages. The cast are very good especially Toyah as his mother and the settings are also seem very real. I can accept these ommisions, what I can't understand is how the film descended into outright fantasy in the last act and how everybody ended up playing happy families. It wasn't in the book and I seriously doubt two people one of them disabled and still in a wheelchair could use a single home made hang glider, fly it to Darlington stadium, land outside the ground where all the main characters just happen to be watching the match run outside for a group hug. This feel good fantasy ending spoils all that went before and ruined the film for me.

FayaMay 29, 2023

source: Give Them Wings

ange❤❤❤😍May 23, 2023

Absolute belter of a film ... Very well acted by everyone as you can see they all put their heart and soul into this. The film itself was gritty and heart warming all at the same time and left you feeling good afterwards which is quite rare in films nowadays. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it and was proud to say I attended the first Darlington premiere and witnessed the first reaction of the audience which was brilliant. This film deserves more awards and the director did the book and Paul Hodgson justice and I think this may go down as another British classic comedy drama.

user7970863431306May 23, 2023

The movie "Give them Wings" is a predictable drama that drags on at the expense of an excess of tragic moments and emotional tensions of all kinds. The movie is based on real facts and explores the highs and lows of Paul Hodgson's life and his experiences as a disabled person after getting meningitis when he was still a baby. Director and writer Sean Cronin uses and abuses all the ingredients to make this story so melodramatic only to have a redemptive ending. Some scenes are meaningless, i.e. The beating Paul gets from a group of tugs, Paul and Ian in the bedroom singing Radio gaga, etc. The cast also leaves something to be desired, it is very difficult to believe in some characters, especially Paul's mother, father and sister. I believe that Paul would be more satisfied if the director had chosen to create a story, where the theme was more his courage to face all obstacles than just feeling sorry for his condition.

eartghull❤Nov 22, 2022

Absolute belter of a film ... Very well acted by everyone as you can see they all put their heart and soul into this. The film itself was gritty and heart warming all at the same time and left you feeling good afterwards which is quite rare in films nowadays. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it and was proud to say I attended the first Darlington premiere and witnessed the first reaction of the audience which was brilliant. This film deserves more awards and the director did the book and Paul Hodgson justice and I think this may go down as another British classic comedy drama.

Black CoffeeNov 22, 2022

محمد النعمي 😎Nov 22, 2022

Give Them Wings