DramaComedy

Boy

- Welcome to my interesting world.

Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan who lives on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago.

Release Date : 2010-03-25

Language :EnglishMaori

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : New Zealand Film CommissionUnison FilmsWhenua Films

Production Country : New Zealand

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Boy

Original Name : James Rolleston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rocky

Original Name : Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alamein

Original Name : Taika Waititi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dynasty

Original Name : Moerangi Tihore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Kelly

Original Name : Cherilee Martin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chardonnay

Original Name : RickyLee Waipuka-Russell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dallas

Original Name : Haze Reweti

Gender : Male

Character Name : Murray

Original Name : Maakariini Butler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tane

Original Name : Rajvinder Eria

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kingi

Original Name : Manihera Rangiuaia

Gender : Male

Character Name : Holden

Original Name : Darcy Ray Flavell-Hudson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aunty Gracey

Original Name : Rachel House

Gender : Female

Character Name : Weirdo

Original Name : Waihoroi Shortland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chuppa

Original Name : Cohen Holloway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Juju

Original Name : Pana Hema-Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Nepia

Original Name : Tuhoro Ranihera Christie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Langston

Original Name : Craig Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nan

Original Name : Mavis Paenga

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mum

Original Name : Ngapaki Emery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Che

Original Name : Ngaru-toa Puru

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hucks

Original Name : Hoanihuhi Takotohiwi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kiko

Original Name : Tainui Callaghan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miria

Original Name : Manaia Callaghan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chardonnay's Friend

Original Name : Ei Kura Albert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Falcon Crest

Original Name : Montana Te Kani-Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Darcy

Original Name : Rangiteaorere Raki

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kingi's Friend

Original Name : Wairangi Herewini

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teacher

Original Name : Waimihi Hotere

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chardonnay's Friend

Original Name : Heke-turoa 'Panache' Ropitini

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chardonnay's Friend

Original Name : Ruataarehu Waititi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Noodle

Original Name : Te Urikore Waititi-Lake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jail Guard

Original Name : Stu Rutherford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Justiun Haiu

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Jarod Rawiri

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Francis Kora

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Chris Graham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Kereama Wright

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Madeleine Sami

Gender : Female

Character Name : Beat It Gang

Original Name : Billy Mizer

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2025-02-16

I really enjoyed James Rolleston’s performance here as his enthusiasm just leaps off the screen at you! His character hasn’t even got a name, but he lives with his gran and the scene-stealing “Rocky” (Te Aho Eketone-Whitu) who has the most fantastic superpowers - not! He is the original Michael Jackson superfan and it’s only his dad who can hope to come close to that level of adulation. His dad “Alamein” (Taika Waititi) is off as a temporary guest of Her Majesty though, and so just imagine his excitement when gran has to head off for a week to attend a funeral just as his father and a few of his pals show up! The young lad is just too absorbed to realise that they a not playing “dig an hole in the garden” for fun, but because there’s some ill-gotten loot buried somewhere. The question isn’t really if they will find it, but who will find it and with a ravenous goat never far from shot, will it survive intact! This is an amiable character study of rural New Zealand in the mid 1980s with a small town, close-knit, community mentality that sees everyone - well the only lady in the place (Rachel House) - look after these kids including “Dallas”, “Dynasty” and there’s even a “Falcon Crest”! She and “Alamein” butt heads occasionally, especially as he becomes more and more frustrated that he can’t find his cash but it’s all amusing stuff. After a fashion, he does care for his son and as the search continues the bond develops. Not so predictably but entertainingly turbulently and with plenty of daft, earthy and witty dialogue from just about all concerned. It celebrates the beauty of their location too but it’s the charming “Rocky” whose merest finger gestures can make things fly or resurrect the dead that really made me smile most. Didn’t we all think, as weans, that we had some sort of magic power? His are illustrated by childlike animations (on graph paper, too!) and, well you can watch and see. It does run out of steam a little, and maybe the joke tires towards the end, but it’s a fun observation on disjointed family life and it’s well worth and hour and an half.