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:

reference to michael jackson | written by director | child protagonist | crush | family home | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English Maori

Release Date:

25 March 2010 (New Zealand)

Also Known As:

Мальчик

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,569, 23 March 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$255,179, 24 June 2012

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Boy was born in 1973.

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Goofs

The story takes place in 1984 with a month ending in 'ber' ( i.e. September, October, November or December) according to what is written on the classroom blackboard. Boy says that his brother Rocky is six years old. Their mother Joanie died while giving birth to Rocky. According to Joanie's tombstone, she died in April, 1977. Doing the math, that would make Rocky seven, not six.

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Quotes

Teacher: Now, who knows what disease this sheep has?
Kingi: AIDS?
Teacher: Not AIDS, you dork!

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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 The Graham Norton Show: Hillary Clinton/Jeff Goldblum/Gerard Butler/Jack Whitehall/Gregory Porter (2017)

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Soundtracks

French Letter
Wrote by Toni Fonoti (as Fonoti), 'Spencer Fusimalohi' (as Fusimalohi) and Dilworth Karaka (as Karaka)
Papa Music
Performed by Herbs
Courtesy of Warrior Records

User Reviews

Absolutely unmissable movie.

Hubby and I went to see this movie last Friday and unfortunately missed the first 10 minutes as we were given the tickets by friends. We sat in a movie theatre with at least 40 people- something quite rare.

The movie drew me in straight away to the rural 80s where young Boy and his brother were growing up and meeting their father for the first time.

As the movie explored their relationship it was bitter-sweet and very humorous. All the leads acted beautifully and the story, directing and settings were very well done. It was honest, funny, compassionate, heart-wrenching, powerful and life-affirming. I'm still thinking about it days later with a grin.

I take my hat off to Mr Waititi for writing, directing and acting in this movie- its a wonderful film. Can't wait to see your next one.

All the actors were fantastic but I must mention the young Maori leads who were brilliant.