BOY

Although I like the big-budget blockbusters as much as the next guy, often the movies that are the best and touch my heart the most are the small, independent (and in this case foreign) films that have a wonderful and touching story to tell. Such is the case with Boy (2010), about an eleven-year old boy in 1980s New Zealand who is left at his nana's house while she is away to a funeral entrusted with caring for his younger brother and assorted cousins. His mother died in childbirth and the father is a ne'er-do-well in jail; his brother believes he has magical powers; and he is smitten by Michael Jackson, and an unattainable older girl from school. Suddenly the immature father arrives with two hanger-ons, intent on finding money he stashed in a field, and while he is searching he tries to reestablish some sort of relationship with his kids. He is a big failure, but he is still their dad. A really nice little film, that I would show to anyone, although there is a little bit of violence and pot smoking and drinking. James Rolleston is wonderful in the lead role, and Te Aho Aho EketoneWhitu is good as his younger brother. Taika Waititi wrote, directed, and starred as the father.

One unfortunate decision they made was not to include captioning for the hearing impaired, as I had some trouble understanding what the characters were saying.I got most of it, but I hate missing out.