Boy [Blu-ray]

A marvelously unique must-see indie coming-of-age comedy/drama from New Zealand
One of the reasons I like small indie films is that every now and then you come across a real gem. Taika Waititi's film, Boy, definitely qualifies. Set in 1984 in New Zealand, Boy is a coming-of-age comedy drama about an 11-year-old Maori boy - nicknamed Boy (winningly played by James Rolleston) - who worships pop star Michael Jackson and lives, along with a younger brother, an indeterminate number of cousins and a pet goat, with his grandmother in a rural Maori community on the coast. All of the kids lack parents, in Boy's case because his mother died giving birth to his younger brother and because his father hasn't been around for years, a condition for which Boy makes up elaborate fantasies, which the film reveals in the opening scene were Boy is giving a prepared talk to his class at school:

"Kia ora. My name is Boy, and welcome to my interesting world. My favorite person is Michael Jackson. He is the best singer and dancer in the world. My favorite subjects are...

Nobody can give this anything but five stars
Boy lives in New Zealand with his grandmother and his demented brother Rocky. When his good-for-nothing dad drifts back into his life, Boy's happy-go-lucky life becomes a bit more complicated, and you see him become a troubled adolescent; this troubles the viewer, to see the loss of innocence. The acting is fantastic, since the kids are very believable, and the story is full of wonderful scenes of life in a rural New Zealand community: it is about young love, about broken families, about schooling and fantasy, and perhaps most importantly it is about what happens to people who let more than a little bit of Michael Jackson into their worlds. If I'd taken notes I would have described more of the wonderful scenes in the film, but I'll just have to go with what I can remember about what a great film this was.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
Why won't anybody come out with the USA FORMAT for this DVD? I looked everywhere... You are restricting people from watching this gemstone! I ordered this anyway from New Zealand (i've got a region free dvd player, which came surprising quick seeing as it's around the world from me. This movie is just absolutely amazing, beautiful, touching, and so so so good. I love coming of age stories, and this one is just fantastic. I love this directors work..and he shows an unknown land to most. New Zealand is just unreal...it is so beautiful, and you feel like you're there in this movie. Please watch this! IT IS SO WORTH IT. And please, somebody, anybody, get this going in USA format!

Click to Editorial Reviews