Boy A. Out tomorrow. (********8/10)
Alliance Films is releasing a terrific movie on October 14th. Boy A is a wonderful film that will leave you feeling drained, upset and possibly a little angry. You see, this is the opposite of what most critics would call a “feel good movie”. Everything bad that we anticipate might happen, does happen. The characters in this movie look as though they are going to be able to find some modicum of happiness in their otherwise dreary and crushing existence, and then they don’t. And their life becomes worse than it was before. There is no escape for them, and there is no escape for the audience in what proves to be a bleak, sad and poignant film.
Jack has been released from prison after an incident as a youngster that has led him to spend most of his young life in prison. We see the buildup to that incident through flashbacks, but we don’t get to see exactly what happened until right near the end of the film. We can guess the story pretty early on, but the dramatic depiction of his despicable crime still manages to resonate and devastate when it is revealed. Once Jack is out of prison, a relationship with a young woman brings him out of his shell, and makes it look as though he will have a chance at a normal life. But, ironically, when he saves a young girl in an act of heroism, his past is brought to light and whatever hope he may have had is crushed again. So too, are the spirits of those watching the film crushed. Boy A is very effective, it’s very good, but it is certainly not light fare and it can be difficult to watch.