Second Best

1994
12
1h 45m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:58

2 Videos

17 Photos

Drama

Graham, a lonely Welsh postal worker, adopts James, a troubled ten-year-old boy. Graham always wanted a son, but James loves his biological father too much to give Graham a chance. Will the ... Read allGraham, a lonely Welsh postal worker, adopts James, a troubled ten-year-old boy. Graham always wanted a son, but James loves his biological father too much to give Graham a chance. Will the two be able to accept each other as family?Graham, a lonely Welsh postal worker, adopts James, a troubled ten-year-old boy. Graham always wanted a son, but James loves his biological father too much to give Graham a chance. Will the two be able to accept each other as family?

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations

Videos2

Photos17

+ 10

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Several reviews claimed that this film is set in Wales, and a Welsh town was the chief location for the movie, but the setting is, in fact, never specified and the accents of the actors in the film cover a wide area across Britain. Although the American William Hurt was praised for learning a Welsh accent, he actually sounds more like an Englishman from the West Country. It is noticeable that all the road signs seen in the film are only in English, whereas road signs in Wales are always in both English and Welsh.

Quotes
[Remembering his mother's death]
Graham: Dad wasn't making much sense. His hands were like injured birds looking for a safe place to roost.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Only You/Second Best/Pulp Fiction (1994)

Soundtracks
Imagination
Written and Performed by Simon Boswell
Published by Sunfun Ltd.

User reviews26

Review

Featured review

10/10

For man and boy; one is the loneliest number.........

If you have a sense of love within you, this movie is for you. There are few things as sad as loneliness. And few things as heart wrenching as seeing it overcome.

This film provides both. though it was not a huge success in the theater, (this film was gravely underrated), it is a wonderful story. A bond of trust and love between child and adult, forged in the pain and fear of emptiness. If you missed it in the theater, take the time to find it, and watch it at home.

I can only hope that a long awaited DVD release is near at hand. there are too many movies with 'created' story lines. This one is as real as it comes. If only there were more like it......

An Update... Here in 2012, this has still not been released on DVD. What a shame. I watched it on Laser Disc yesterday, and it is such a wonderful film. Someone missed the boat on the DVD release. Sad...