Their influence is shown to play its part in the young Lennon’s journey – his first banjo lesson, first guitar, first introduction to rock ’n’ roll.

Along the way, we are given the inevitable tourist trail of Liverpool sites, although there are one or two location liberties, not least with Mendips – Aunt Mimi’s home – and The Cavern.

But Nowhere Boy, visually beautiful under the directorial hand of artist Sam Taylor-Wood, is very much about the pre-Cavern days, and the characters in Lennon’s life who are so often unfairly relegated to bit-part players. Aaron Johnson’s casting in the lead role is inspired. The 19-year-old virtual unknown has all the cheeky magnetic charisma for which Lennon was renowned, but a tangible vulnerability, too.

By the time we see him meet Paul McCartney and play the famous St Peter’s gig, he even begins to look uncannily similar, quiff, checked shirt and all.

But, in truth, the film belongs to Kristin Scott Thomas as Aunt Mimi and Anne-Marie Duff as Julia, sisters divided by a common consuming love, whose performances are powerful and ultimately very moving.