The Boy You Were Is Not The Man You Are.

Set in Mississippi, LEO is the touching and beautiful story of the relationship between ex-convict Stephen (Joseph Fiennes), and Leopold a troubled young boy who writes his inner most thoughts to Stephen while he’s in jail.

When Stephen is released from jail after serving a stretch for murder, the quiet, literary ex-con goes to work in the kitchens of a motel/diner, owned by Vic (Sam Shepherd).

The diner and it’s workers are terrorised on a daily basis by Horace (Dennis Hopper), who has an unsavoury and very sinister interest in the meek and much abused waitress, Caroline (Deborah Unger). Stephen gains strength from his continuing correspondence with Leopold and is able to summon the courage to put a stop to Horace and his bullying.

In an interweaving plotline, embittered and drunken widow Mary Bloom (Elisabeth Shue) raises her son, Leopold. Leopold is bought up in a loveless household, blamed by his mother for incidents beyond their control. Like Stephen, Leopold gains strength from his relationship with the convict.

Mehdi Norowzian makes his feature film debut with LEO, starring Joseph Fiennes, Elizabeth Shue, Dennis Hopper and Mary Stuart Masterson. The film is written and produced by Massy Tadjedin. Produced by Erica August. Executive Producer Nik Powell.

Cert: 15 - Contains strong language,sex and violence
Running Time: 1hour 44mins
Release Date: 12/03/2004
Distributor: UIP