![]() ![]() But, as the grown-up Kingley explains to his granddaughter, the conversations between them forming a bedtime story framing device, “one day the world came to me.” That past involves Kingley as a child (the fresh-faced Finn Little, who has great presence) living on Ninety Mile beach with his father Tom (Jai Courtney, delivering a fine performance as a reserved but not unemotional man).įather and son are cut off off from the world. Seet and the cinematographer Bruce Young (who recently shot the excellent Blue Murder: Killer Cop and the laughable Bite Club) indulge in fish-eye style compositions, with blurry edges that evoke a dreamy past. It is a strikingly surreal opener, with a rich cinematic texture that comes and goes throughout the rest of the film. The room’s floor-to-ceiling glass window shatters and everybody exits except for Kingley, who, as if in trance, walks towards it, noticing a pelican outside perched on a light post. There are intense grey clouds, rumblings of thunder and heavy rain. ![]() In a meeting room high up in the building, Kingley observes a grey and foreboding metropolis – starkly contrasting the glistening aqua water and silky sand dunes of Coorong, South Australia, where much of the film is based. Photograph: Matt Nettheim/Stormy Productions But even the most thick-skinned kids may be shell-shocked by the film's conclusion.Morgana Davies and Geoffrey Rush in a scene from Storm Boy. ![]() Writer Justin Monjo has a cinematic fix for that, explaining that the tragedy wasn't in vain and allowing the teen girl in the modern story to succeed. The boy's hard work and protective measures don't pay off, in the cruelest of ways. But the cheer comes to a devastating conclusion, and that defies the direction of most of today's family movies. ![]() Kids almost always respond to seeing others their age playing with wild animals it's a fantasy come true. Percival, are adorable, and a memorable game of hide-and-seek is downright precious. On the other hand, who knew pelicans could make such good friends? The antics featuring young Michael's (Finn Little) pet, Mr. From there, the story moseys along at a pace that might bore some kids. This adaptation brings those elements to life, but it wraps the child's story into an adult one - and, in doing so, it's likely to lose younger audiences within the first 10 minutes. Australian children are taught Storm Boy (the book) in elementary school: The story is full of exploration and adventure, love, loss, unexpected friendship, finding your voice, appreciating other cultures, and understanding the importance of protecting nature. Show moreįor the Australians who grew up reading Thiele's treasured book, this drama will no doubt be a captivating, special tale for those unfamiliar, it will be more of a challenge to stay engaged. Language is minimal, sex isn't an issue, and themes include compassion, empathy, and teamwork. Expect to see guns in action (hunters shoot and kill birds, and bloody bird carcasses are seen) and adults drinking. That said, the way the boy and the indigenous man meet might be cause for a talk with your kids: The man approaches the boy in a remote area and assures him that he's friendly the next thing you know, the boy brings the man back to his house, where ( phew) the man insists on waiting outside, since the boy's father isn't home. But beautiful relationships shine through, including that of the boy, his dad, and a lonely indigenous man who passes on his tribal customs to the boy. Everyone in the movie is in mourning - all of the main characters have lost parents, wives, and/or children - and the ending is a major heart-wrencher (worse than Old Yeller, but not as harsh as The Yearling). It's a pro-ecological tale about a boy's love for an orphaned pelican and his awakening about the importance of defending wildlife and protecting nature. Parents need to know that Storm Boy is a drama based on a children's novella by Colin Thiele that's taught in Australian schools. ![]()
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