Time again for the next film from the Williams Lake Film Club.
This Friday, Oct. 28, we will show the film Boy from New Zealand at the Gibraltar Room. The back door opens at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Boy is written and directed by the very talented young Maori filmmaker Taika Waititi.
He also plays one of the main roles, the father Boy is waiting to see again.
The film was released in New Zealand in 2010 and has so far been the highest grossing film in this country.
Running time is 87 minutes, languages are Maori and a New Zealand type of English, no subtitles, not rated.
It came to North America in 2012 and opened up at Sundance.
Waitit’s first publicly shown film is Two Cars, One Night, a short which quickly caught the attention of the Academy and was nominated for an Academy Award.
We have the great pleasure to show you this film before our main feature.
Boy is called a comedy/drama and just like life this is exactly what it is. During summer break in 1984 11-year-old Boy has to take care of his brother Rocky, who is six years old.
And there are a few more kids around the house when his Nana has to leave for a couple of weeks to attend a funeral.
Boy’s mother died shortly after giving birth to Rocky and his father disappeared around the same time. Ever since then Boy fantasizes about his dad coming home.
To say it in Boy’s words:
“Kia ora. My name is Boy, and welcome to my interesting world.
“My favourite person is Michael Jackson. He is the best singer and dancer in the world.
“My favourite subjects are art, social studies and Michael Jackson. I have a six year old brother called Rocky. He’s got powers. I’m named after my dad. He can dance as good as Michael Jackson. He’s a master carver, deep sea treasure diver, soldier, captain of the rugby team, and he holds the record for punching out the most number of people with one hand.
“My dad isn’t here right now. He’s a busy man. When he comes home he’s taking me to see Michael Jackson — live. The end.”
And then his dad really does come home after Nana has left, and that is the story you will see.
Taika Waititi started his career as a stand-up comedian and singer, then he became a very determined filmmaker.
His budgets are low, but that does not deter him.
Boy has been filmed in his home town of Waihau Bay, a typical small Maori community, in his grandmother’s house. The school featured in the film is the school Waititi actually attended, nearly all of the actors are his relatives and residents of this small town of under 300 people.
And the landscape is incredible.
You do not have to be a film club member to come and see our films, everyone is invited, however, your membership also helps to support the LDA, Williams Lake Chapter of the Association for Students with Learning Problems, for one-on-one tutoring.
Admission at the door is $10 regular, $8 for film club members, and $6 for seniors (65-plus) and students, high school and post secondary.