KNOWN as the neighbourhood recluse, silver-haired William Forrester is a man whose mystery and eccentricity border on the mythical.

When Jamal Wallace, a talented African-American scholar/athlete, sneaks into his apartment and accidentally leaves behind his backpack full of writings, they both get something unexpected in return.

Compelled to look past skin colour and suppositions, Jamal encounters not only his first fan, but a mentor who will challenge and change him forever, while Forrester has his first reason in years to emerge from his self-imposed solitude.

That's the premise behind Finding Forrester, an uplifting story about the unusual dynamic between an isolated author and the confident teenager who changes his life.

Through their unique, occasionally contentious alliance, Jamal navigates a new world outside of the South Bronx home he shares with his loving mother and brother.

Forrester is Jamal's unlikely guide on his journey into the strange, strait-laced academic community in which he must now prove himself as a writer.

"Forrester brings out Jamal's intelligence, and Jamal brings Forrester back into life," says newcomer Rob Brown, who plays the student.

"They need each other in a way they never imagined."

"This is just fantastic," says Sean Connery, who heads the cast as the eponymous Forrester.

"The idea of an ageing, cranky character becoming the mentor and friend of a young boy, a black teenager.

Forrester's apartment, full of dusty stacks of classic tomes and the furious sound of a clicking typewriter, quickly becomes the place where the two writers meet, laugh, argue, learn and dedicate themselves to the one thing that irrevocably binds them together - love for the written word.

Under Forrester's tutelage, Jamal injects new passion into his work and enters the school's writing contest.

Forrester, alongside his youthful protg, finds himself reawakening to the outside world he's shut out for 40 years.

But the integrity of their friendship, as well as each man's loyalty, is tested when a charge of plagiarism is levelled against Jamal by autocratic Professor Crawford (F.

Murray Abraham).

Jamal's academic and athletic future is jeopardised when he is left alone to defend himself against the powers-that-be at his school.

Sean Connery's interest in the film went beyond just playing the role of Forrester; he not only stars, but also co-produces the movie.

"This is the kind of film I like: a contemporary drama that tells a constructive story about friendship," says the Scotsman.

"The last film I did about friendship was The Man Who Would Be King, and that was more than 25 years ago.

I also think the literary motif is original and very entertaining, too."

For Rob Brown, the chance to work with Connery and director Gus Van Sant proved irresistible.

"It was fun," says Brown.

"I thought working Sean would be all work and no play.

He's serious, but he clowns around, too.

I didn't know exactly what to expect a director to do.

I thought he'd be shouting 'Action!' and giving orders.

But Gus isn't like that at all.

He's very quiet."