John Lennon is known the world over as a prolific songwriter, a slightly mad genius whose musical gifts were, at times, far too heady for the public at large. We also know of his tragic end, which came much too soon.

What many do not know is the story that came before The Beatles and before the fame—the young John Lennon in his pre-musical giant days. Nowhere Boy, an ambitious new film, plans to paint that picture clearly for audiences.

In her directorial debut, Sam Taylor-Wood shows the early years of John Lennon - the first time he met lifelong collaborator Paul McCartney, the first time he was given a banjo as a gift, the two women who helped shape his life.

Nowhere Boy has already been released in Britain, winning two nods from the British Academy Awards (one for Kristin Scott Thomas as Aunt Mimi, and another for Anne-Marie Duff as mom Julia). The movie will come to US theaters the day before Lennon’s 70th birthday. Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono calls the film “very truthful,” though Paul McCartney has made some comments questioning its accuracy.

The movie follows Lennon (played by Kick-Ass’ Aaron Johnson) for five years, from 1955 to 1960, when the Beatles left Liverpool.

Watch the official trailer in the video clip above.