Boy (2010)

Set on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.

Director:

Taika Waititi

Writer:

Taika Waititi

Stars:

James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, Taika Waititi

13 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Rolleston	...	Boy
Te Aho Eketone-Whitu	...	Rocky
Taika Waititi	...	Alamein
Moerangi Tihore	...	Dynasty
Cherilee Martin	...	Kelly
RickyLee Waipuka-Russell	...	Chardonnay (as Rickylee Waipuka-Russell)
Haze Reweti	...	Dallas
Maakariini Butler	...	Murray
Rajvinder Eria	...	Tane
Manihera Rangiuaia	...	Kingi
Darcy Ray Flavell-Hudson	...	Holden
Rachel House	...	Aunty Gracey
Waihoroi Shortland	...	Weirdo
Cohen Holloway	...	Chuppa
Pana Hema Taylor	...	Juju

Storyline

It's 1984. Here we meet Boy, an 11-year-old who lives on a farm with his gran, a goat, and his younger brother, Rocky (who thinks he has magic powers). Shortly after Gran leaves for a week, Boy's father, Alamein, appears out of the blue. Having imagined a heroic version of his father during his absence, Boy comes face to face with the real version-an incompetent hoodlum who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years before. This is where the goat enters.

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Plot Keywords:

crush | beach | party | coming of age | goat | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nearest translation to English of the Maori phrase at the end of the movie is: "Tawhitinui is the mountain, Maru-O-Hinemaka is the Marae Tauira mai. Tawhiti is the canoe and Pararaki family is the family TE-WHANAU-A-APANUI TE IWI!

Tihei Mauri ora. "

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Goofs

The plastic road markers that "Boy" was playing with and bending down on the side of the road were not found anywhere in New Zealand until around 1990. The film is set 6 years earlier when wooden road markers were in use.

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Quotes

Kelly: Wow, real milk!

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Crazy Credits

The credits start with the names and roles of the three main actors and this is followed by a spoof of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", incorporating elements of the original dance (as seen on the music video) and Maori Hakas.

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Connections

Referenced in I Hate Everything: Superhero Movies (2017) (2018)

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Soundtracks

Waihau Bay
(uncredited)
Performed by The Phoenix Foundation
(P) 2010 The Volcano Company Ltd and Franklin Rd

User Reviews

This movie is a little Gem! Recommended.

This New Zealand made movie had me laughing and entertained right from the outset. In fact, within the first five minutes, there were more laughs than some comedy movies manage to achieve in their entirety.

The movie 'Boy' is proof that a good script, decent characters and plenty of laughs produces a better result than big budget movies with no originality and plenty of marketing.

Go and see this -- but only if you like decent movies, 1980 references, laughing and characters you'll care about; a blend of serious under-currents wrapped up in quirky NZ humor.

For New Zealand viewers, some of the scenes will seem so familiar; something you'll be able to relate to...but anyone can watch this.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English Maori

Release Date:

25 March 2010 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Boy

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,244, 4 March 2012

Gross USA:

$256,211

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,551,154

Company Credits

Production Co:

Whenua Films, Unison Films, New Zealand Film Production Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (fantasy sequence)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1