Trailer and poster for 'The Wee Man'

A new trailer and poster have been released for Martin Compston’s next film, The Wee Man, based on the life of notorious Glasgow gangster, Paul Ferris.
The film follows Paul (Compston) as he grows up an ordinary young kid in the notorious area of Blackhill, Glasgow and the journey through his teenage years to manhood.
The story begins in the sixties. At the age of just eleven, Paul has already learned that life on the street is tough. Everybody knows his place. Poverty breeds corruption, crime, violence and bullying. The film charts the way in which Paul was bullied as a child, and whose road to crime came as a reaction against the monsters of his youth.


Patrick Bergin, John Hannah, Denis Lawson, Lorna McMonagle, Stephen McCole and Rita Tushingham co-star.
Source: Reel Scotland

There's also a glimpse of Daniel Kerr, who plays the young Paul.

The Wee Man trailer offers glimpse of Martin Compston as Paul Ferris

New film The Wee Man is based on the well documented life story of reformed Glaswegian gangster Paul Ferris – and its first released trailer reveals more about what audiences can expect from the gritty true-life tale.

With a Scottish cast led by Martin Compston (The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, Sweet Sixteen), the film features John Hannah (The Mummy Trilogy, Four Weddings And A Funeral, Spartacus), Denis Lawson (Perfect Sense, Star Wars Trilogy), Lorna Mcmonagle (Lip Service), Clare Grogan (Gregory's Girl) and Stephen McCole (Neds).

The Wee Man follows Paul (Compston) growing up as an ordinary young kid with hardworking parents in Blackhill, Glasgow, and follows the journey through his teenage years to manhood. The film has been produced by Carnaby International Productions (Rise Of The Footsoldier, A Lonely Place To Die).
The plot description is as follows: “The story begins in the sixties. At the age of just eleven, Paul has already learned that life on the street is tough. Everybody knows his place. Poverty breeds corruption, crime, violence and bullying. Blackhill was the most notorious area of all.

“The film charts the way in which Paul was bullied as a child, and whose road to crime came as a reaction against the monsters of his youth. Paul worked for feared gangland boss Arthur Thompson Snr (Patrick Bergin) and rose to power in Glasgow's murky underworld in the late 80s and early 90s. In 1991 he was charged with the murder of Arthur 'Fat Boy' Thompson Jr (Stephen McCole), son of Arthur.
“Ferris sparked a furore when he was given a hero's reception outside the High Court and walked free after a not-proven verdict, following one of Scotland's longest murder trials. He was jailed for gun-running in 1998, and on his release in 2002 turned his back on his former gangster life and vowed to go straight, determined to teach others how to avoid a life of crime.”
Source: STV

• The Wee Man is released in selected UK cinemas on January 18, 2013.