Comedy-drama war film written, produced, and directed by John Boorman, who drew from his own childhood experiences for this coming-of-age tale about a boy growing up in and around London during the Second World War. For young Billy Rowan, the nightly bombings provide a frightening show, but they provide opportunities to rummage through the rubble with friends in the mornings. As Billy plays, his family struggles to remain intact as they suffer through the anguish and losses of wartime.