Boy (2010 film)
Encyclopedia
Boy is a 2010 New Zealand
coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi
and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission
. In New Zealand, the film has eclipsed previous records for a first week's box office takings for a local production. Boy is the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time.
The soundtrack to Boy features New Zealand artists such as The Phoenix Foundation
, who previously appeared in Waititi's film Eagle vs Shark
.
is king - even in Waihau Bay, New Zealand. Here we meet Boy, an 11-year-old who lives on a farm with his gran, a goat called Leaf, his younger brother, Rocky (who thinks he has super powers) and several cousins. Shortly after Gran leaves for a Tangihanga
(funeral) in Wellington 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.
and it first emerged as a film called Choice. It was accepted into the Sundance Writer's Lab in 2005 where Waititi workshopped it with script writers Frank Pierson, Susan Shilliday, David Benioff
and Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal
. Instead of making Boy his first film Waititi went on to make Eagle vs Shark
and continued to develop the screenplay over the next three years. When the script was finally ready there was a small window of opportunity in which to make it.
Waititi dropped the title Choice because he felt that it would not translate to international audiences, and the film was retitled The Volcano. “It was a big pain about this kid’s potential to be bigger than he is or just bloom or explode... So it was a character in the script as well. When we were shooting the film it was still called Volcano and during the editing. We ended up cutting a lot of the stuff out,” he says.
Waititi wanted to shoot the film where he grew up in Waihau Bay. It was a summer film but impossible to shoot in the height of summer due to the popularity of the area as a fishing and holiday destination. The film features the maize fields and the maize is harvested from late April. Boy was shot entirely in the area of Waihau Bay, New Zealand
. James Rolleston was never actually intended to play the lead role of "Boy". Rolleston originally turned up on set for a costume fitting as an extra and after short deliberation the teen was offered the role.
on January 22, 2010. It competed in the "World Cinema – Dramatic" category.
gave the film five out of five stars, he praised the performances by the three main actors and said "it's hard to praise too highly the pitch-perfect tone of this movie."
The film currently has a 100% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes
, based on 17 reviews
and homegrown pictures Whale Rider and The World's Fastest Indian
. It also climbed above international kid blockbuster How to Train Your Dragon
and mythical action flick Clash of the Titans
. Boy then went on to become the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time taking over The World's Fastest Indian
which held the position for five years.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi , also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Varietys "ten new directors to watch" in 2007....
and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission
New Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films...
. In New Zealand, the film has eclipsed previous records for a first week's box office takings for a local production. Boy is the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time.
The soundtrack to Boy features New Zealand artists such as The Phoenix Foundation
The Phoenix Foundation
The Phoenix Foundation are an progressive indie rock band formed in Wellington, New Zealand.-Early years and China Cove:Founded by Conrad Wedde, Samuel Flynn Scott, and Luke Buda in 1997 while students at Wellington High School, they were joined by Tim Hansen , Richie Singleton and Will Ricketts ...
, who previously appeared in Waititi's film Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark is a 2007 New Zealand romantic comedy film directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. The screenplay was also written by Waititi, based on the character of Lily created by Loren Horsley....
.
Plot
It's 1984, and Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
is king - even in Waihau Bay, New Zealand. Here we meet Boy, an 11-year-old who lives on a farm with his gran, a goat called Leaf, his younger brother, Rocky (who thinks he has super powers) and several cousins. Shortly after Gran leaves for a Tangihanga
Tangihanga
Tangihanga, or more commonly, Tangi, is a Māori funeral rite.Each iwi differs on how they honour those who pass. Tangihanga generally take three days with burial on the third day. From the moment of death, the tūpāpaku is rarely alone. The tūpāpaku is transported to the marae...
(funeral) in Wellington 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.
Cast
- James Rolleston as Boy
- Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu as Rocky
- Taika WaititiTaika WaititiTaika Waititi , also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Varietys "ten new directors to watch" in 2007....
as Alamein - Moerangi Tihore as Dynasty
- Cherilee Martin as Kelly
- RickyLee Waipuka-Russell as Chardonnay
- Haze Reweti as Dallas
- Maakariini Butler as Murray
- Rajvinder Eria as Tane
- Rachel Hamblyn as Kingi
- Darcy Ray Flavell-Hudson as Holden
- Rachel House as Aunty Gracey
- Craig HallCraig Hall (actor)-Film:* Siren as Soldier* Savage Honeymoon as Dean Savage* The World's Fastest Indian as Antarctic Angel* King Kong as Mike* Perfect Creature as Dominic* Knife Shift as Shane...
as Mr Langston - Waihoroi Shortland as Weirdo
- Cohen Holloway as Chuppa
- Pana Hema Taylor as Juju
- Mavis Paenga as Nan
Production
Waititi started developing Boy soon after finishing Two Cars, One NightTwo Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night is a short film written and directed by Taika Waititi. Released in 2003, the film is about two boys and a girl meeting in the carpark of a rural pub in Te Kaha, New Zealand...
and it first emerged as a film called Choice. It was accepted into the Sundance Writer's Lab in 2005 where Waititi workshopped it with script writers Frank Pierson, Susan Shilliday, David Benioff
David Benioff
-Early life:Born David Friedman in New York City, he changed his name to David Benioff, his mother's maiden name. He is the youngest of three children....
and Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal
Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal
Naomi Gyllenhaal is an American screenwriter. She has written the screenplays for several feature films, including Running on Empty , Losing Isaiah, and most recently Bee Season. She is...
. Instead of making Boy his first film Waititi went on to make Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark is a 2007 New Zealand romantic comedy film directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. The screenplay was also written by Waititi, based on the character of Lily created by Loren Horsley....
and continued to develop the screenplay over the next three years. When the script was finally ready there was a small window of opportunity in which to make it.
Waititi dropped the title Choice because he felt that it would not translate to international audiences, and the film was retitled The Volcano. “It was a big pain about this kid’s potential to be bigger than he is or just bloom or explode... So it was a character in the script as well. When we were shooting the film it was still called Volcano and during the editing. We ended up cutting a lot of the stuff out,” he says.
Waititi wanted to shoot the film where he grew up in Waihau Bay. It was a summer film but impossible to shoot in the height of summer due to the popularity of the area as a fishing and holiday destination. The film features the maize fields and the maize is harvested from late April. Boy was shot entirely in the area of Waihau Bay, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. James Rolleston was never actually intended to play the lead role of "Boy". Rolleston originally turned up on set for a costume fitting as an extra and after short deliberation the teen was offered the role.
Release
Boy premiered at the Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
on January 22, 2010. It competed in the "World Cinema – Dramatic" category.
Critical response
Peter Calder of The New Zealand HeraldThe New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
gave the film five out of five stars, he praised the performances by the three main actors and said "it's hard to praise too highly the pitch-perfect tone of this movie."
The film currently has a 100% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, based on 17 reviews
Box office
On release in New Zealand the film topped the box office receipts for the week, earning more on its opening day than any previous New Zealand film. The film grossed nearly $900,000 in its first seven days beating Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland (2010 film)
Alice in Wonderland is a 2010 American computer-animated/live action fantasy adventure film directed by Tim Burton, written by Linda Woolverton, and released by Walt Disney Pictures...
and homegrown pictures Whale Rider and The World's Fastest Indian
The World's Fastest Indian
The World's Fastest Indian is a 2005 New Zealand biographical film based on the Invercargill, New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro and his highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle...
. It also climbed above international kid blockbuster How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon (film)
How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 3D computer-animated action fantasy film by DreamWorks Animation loosely based on the 2003 book of the same name. The film stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, and Christopher...
and mythical action flick Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans (2010 film)
Clash of the Titans is a 2010 fantasy and action remake of the 1981 film of the same name . The story is very loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. Directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Sam Worthington, the film was originally set for standard release on March 26, 2010...
. Boy then went on to become the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time taking over The World's Fastest Indian
The World's Fastest Indian
The World's Fastest Indian is a 2005 New Zealand biographical film based on the Invercargill, New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro and his highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle...
which held the position for five years.