The New Boy

My Review- The New Boy My rating 9/10

This film reminds me so much of the 1947 classic movie Black Narcissus which is also about an isolated community of nuns written and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

The New Boy is a totally different story written by Warwick Thornton set in a totally different location but in my opinion there are some striking similarities.

Black Narcissus like The New Boy also deals with conflicts of faith and extreme culture clashes .

The New Boy produced by Cate Blanchett's production company Dirty Films also like Black Narcissus has an ethereal quality some sets almost look artificial but this adds to the drama.

I also noticed in one pivotal scene the label of a bottle of wine reads Blue Narcissus.

What's The New Boy about ?

This is open to interpretation all I'll say is it's a movie you have to think about .

My interpretation of this fine film is that it's about clash of cultures and a crisis of faith when two spiritual beliefs one Christian and the other indigenous First Nation spirituality collide by an accident of fate.

Mixing realism with the magical aspects of a fable, The New Boy is set in 1940s Australia and centres around an Aboriginal child (played by 11-year-old newcomer Aswan Reid) with mysterious 'powers'.

Eleven year old Aswan Reid gives the finest debut performance of an indigenous boy since David Gulpilil in the original Storm Boy he only has two words of dialogue in the movie but his emotive and spiritual performance doesn't need dialogue.

Cate Blanchett is brilliant as a kind but troubled Head nun Sister Eileen who runs a school for boys that have no mothers themselves - even though we know this to be a lie, as they have been taken from their families and their fate is governed by the Protector of Aborigines.

The New Boy is brought to the monastery after being captured by a Native Policeman.

Sister Eileen who welcomes the new boy as she farewells an older aboriginal boy is desperately trying to maintain her outback community after the priest in charge died she seeks guidance praying to his spirit .

She is fiery and often unconventional but kind as she prays and try's to hide the fact that there is no longer a man in charge from authorities who wouldn't allow a woman in charge of the monastery.

The other nun is Sister Mum so beautifully and sensitively played by Deborah Mailman who assists in the property's farm running while also cooking and caring for the small group of "orphaned boys." Sister Mum's story would make a fine film on its own as we see her tearfully look at a photo of her own children we wonder how she became a nun and can only guess what happened to her two children?

Wayne Blair is also impressive as the Aboriginal overseer who supervises the boys farm work . He becomes suspicious and fearful of the spiritual power of the new boy.

Cate Blanchett helped to develop the story with Warwick Thornton and both decided to make the character a nun instead of a monk who was the original character.

Thornton had originally imagined a priest running the monastery and had given his film the working title Father and the Son but both thought this could add a dark connotation to the story.

Production of The New Boy began in October 2022 and wrapped in December that year. The outdoor scenes were shot on location near Burra in South Australia The wonderful music score of The New Boy was written by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis .

Warwick Thornton the writer of The New Boy is also director and cinematographer and I think this movie is as impressive as his 2009 movie Samson and Delilah.