Boy

Went with Auckland Girl to the movies last night to celebrate her 25th birthday, and saw Boy. I’d heard from several people it was very good but hadn’t planned to go out of my way to see it.

I was very glad I did see it as it was a quite delightful and entertaining film.

Most of all though, it was so powerfully New Zealand. Not just the Maori dimension, but everything from the tools in the garage, to the remote dairy, to the cars, to the landscapes, to the cannabis plantations.

Michael Jackson and Billy T James as cultural icons added humour to the film, and make sure you don’t leave the moment the credits start.

James Rolleston showed real talent as “Boy” and I also liked Taika Waititi’s depiction of his father. Not a hero, but not a total villain. In many ways a loser, but also moments of him being a great dad, when he played storm the barricades with Boy.

Waititi also wrote and directed the film. He is definitely a growing talent and I’d go see another of his films.