Mr. Burton

Set against the coal-streaked hills and hard edges of post-war Wales, Mr. Burton tells the remarkable true story of a boy from the backstreets of Port Talbot who would become a giant of stage and screen, and the teacher who first believed he could.

When Philip Burton (played brilliantly by Toby Jones), a principled and passionate schoolmaster, encounters Richie Jenkins, a troubled yet fiercely bright teenager from a broken home, he sees beyond the boy’s unruly exterior to a rare and fiery brilliance. As the world around them is marked by hardship and limited opportunity, Philip becomes more than just a mentor - he becomes a guiding force, instilling in Richie a love of language, discipline, and ambition. What begins as a teacher-student relationship evolves into something deeper: a transformative bond that will not only alter the course of one young man’s life but also give rise to Richard Burton, one of the most magnetic and revered actors of the 20th century. Rich with emotion, grit, and a fierce sense of place, Mr Burton is a story of talent, tenacity, and the quiet power of someone seeing greatness in you before you can see it yourself.

Screening at Luna Leederville, Luna on SX, and the Windsor.