Alexis Poulsen
QLD Area Manager
Limelight Cinemas

WELSH mining towns in the aftermath of World War II were places where grit, hardship, and resilience defined daily life.

Dreams of a life beyond the steelworks or the pit were often dismissed as unrealistic fantasies.

But sometimes, in the most unlikely places, a spark is lit - and if the right person fans the flame, it can grow into a fire that changes the world.

That is the heart of Mr Burton, the upcoming film starring Aneurin Barnard, Toby Jones and Lesley Manville.

This isn’t just another biopic. Rather than a cradle-to-grave retelling of Richard Burton’s life, the film zooms in on the transformative relationship between a young, volatile Richie Jenkins and the schoolteacher who saw what others could not.

The story begins in post-war Port Talbot, a steel town battered by economic hardship but rich in working-class spirit.

Richie, the twelfth of thirteen children, comes from a fractured home where loss and poverty hang heavy in the air. His temper is quick, his energy restless, and his raw charisma - though magnetic - threatens to be squandered before it can find a purpose.

Enter Philip Burton, played by the ever-reliable Toby Jones.

A principled and passionate schoolteacher, Philip is a man who believes deeply in the transformative power of education and the arts.

Where others see a troublemaker, he sees a gifted mind and a voice that could command the stage.

With patience, discipline and a rare brand of personal investment, Philip takes Richie under his wing, teaching him not just about literature and theatre, but about self-respect, ambition and the discipline required to channel raw talent into something lasting.

The bond between the two becomes the film’s emotional core.

Aneurin Barnard brings Richie’s fiery youth to life - a performance that promises both intensity and vulnerability.

Lesley Manville rounds out the cast with her trademark gravitas, portraying a figure whose presence underscores the importance of community in shaping both men’s lives.

The title, Mr Burton, refers to the teacher - the man who saw potential where others saw trouble.

But it also nods to the man Richie would become: Richard Burton, one of the most magnetic actors of the 20th century, whose Shakespearean mastery and Hollywood stardom made him a legend.

The film’s focus, however, remains firmly rooted in those early years, reminding us that even the most towering careers are often built on the quiet, unseen work of mentorship.

In an age where celebrity biographies often dwell on scandal or glamour, Mr Burton offers something refreshingly grounded and full of heart.

This is a story about education as liberation, about the way a single teacher’s belief can alter the trajectory of a life.

It’s also about the grit it takes to rise above circumstance - the shared determination of student and mentor, each shaping the other in ways neither could have predicted.

If the early buzz is anything to go by, Mr Burton will deliver more than just an historical portrait; it will be an ode to the unsung heroes who change lives, and a testament to the power of seeing what others overlook.

In Philip Burton’s unwavering belief, and in Richie Jenkins’ fierce determination, audiences may find echoes of their own mentors, their own moments of transformation.

And in the end, perhaps that’s what will make Mr Burton not just a film about Richard Burton — but a film for all of us.

Mr Burton releases at Limelight Cinemas from August 14.