[FILM REVIEW] THE NEW BOY Review (2023)

July 16, 2023July 16, 2023 Dave Alex First, Aswan Reid, Australia, Cate Blanchett, Central Coast Radio, David Griffiths, Deborah Mailman, Kaliem Miller, Kyle Miller, Laiken Woolmington, Shane Brady, The New Boy, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, Tyler Spencer, Tyrique Brady, Tyzalian Roderick, Warwick Thornton, Wayne Blair

Summary: The mesmeric story of a nine-year-old aboriginal Australian orphan boy who arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery run by a renegade nun.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates: 6th July 2023 (Australia), TBA (Thailand), TBA (UK, TBA (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: Australia

Director: Warwick Thornton

Screenwriter: Warwick Thornton

Cast: Wayne Blair (George), Cate Blanchett (Sister Eileen), Shane Brady (Michael), Tyrique Brady (Matthew), Deborah Mailman (Sister Mum), Kailem Miller (Steven), Kyle Miller (James), Aswan Reid (New Boy), Tyzailan Roderick (Henry), Tyler Spencer (Johnny), Laiken Woolmington (David)

Running Time: 116 mins

Classification: M (Australia), TBC (Thailand), TBC (UK), TBC (USA)

OUR THE NEW BOY REVIEWS

Dave Griffiths’ The New Boy Review

David’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s The New Boy Review

A young indigenous lad (Aswan Reid) reshapes the lives of those living at a remote monastery in 1940s Australia in The New Boy.

The outback facility is a mission for Aboriginal children run by a feisty, renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett).

At the time only men could operate missions, but since the elderly monk who was in charge died a year earlier, Sister Eileen has been secretly running the place.

One day, in the dead of night a new boy is delivered to the monastery.

He doesn’t speak English (eventually he lets out the odd “Amen”). Until now, he has been living a nomadic tribal life. He has no concept of Western norms.

Dubbed The New Boy, he is quick to pick up on things and soon understands the pecking order, and how to make it work.

He is intelligent, his survival instincts are sharp and he seems to have special powers, which he uses for healing as well as for his own entertainment.

The arrival of special religious treasure, a life-size carving of Jesus on the cross, really shakes things up.

The new boy is transfixed, but his indigenous spiritual life and mysterious spiritual powers don’t fit comfortably with the mission’s orderly Christianity.

This leads to a series of unsettling encounters.

As writer, director and cinematographer, Warwick Thornton has created an intriguing master work, where little needs to be said, but the message is clear.

A round peg doesn’t necessarily fit into a square hole.

Despite Cate Blanchett’s significant presence, this is clearly Aswan Reid’s film. The newcomer is phenomenal.

The camera loves him. He makes his presence felt from the first frame and I, for one, couldn’t get enough of him.

Importantly, he is able to capture the essence of his character with very few words.

Blanchett throws herself into the role of the driven but troubled monastery head with gusto.

I also appreciated the empathetic portrayal of chief cook and bottle washer Sister Mum by Deborah Mailman.

Wayne Blair’s restrained characterisation of George, an indigenous man concerned about how the new boy could rock the boat for him, hits the mark.

Thornton is adept at displaying the dichotomy between Christianity and indigenous spirituality. Clearly, indoctrination doesn’t suit everyone. The independent nature of the filmmaking – it is not a straightforward narrative – won’t suit all tastes, but I found The New Boy compelling viewing.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other The New Boy Reviews:

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