wide reading entry #4- ‘Boy’

Title: ‘Boy’

Director: Taika Waititi

Text type: Film

July 2019

film ‘Boy’ is about a young boy named Boy who’s grandma has left to go to a funeral for a few days leaving young Boy in charge of his siblings. Then having his father whos been in jail for many years come back home in the search of treasure when young boy least expects it.

Throughout the film, I found the character Rocky to be interesting rocky is boys younger brother. Rocky felt distant towards father shogun (Boy’s and Rocky’s father) because he never really was a fan of his father, didn’t know much about him always asked Boy what his father and mother were like “what was he like” “her and dad were always laughing”. When shogun arrived back Rocky always thought it was his fault that his mother died and I think that was why rocky was very reluctant towards his father that had just come home. I feel as though in today’s society that a lot of children are reluctant towards their parents, with a lot of children only having one parental figure in their lives leaving them unsure of who to trust and look up to. I really felt for Rocky with being unsure about his father and wondering if he was the reason that his mother wasn’t there I felt that I could empathise and relate with his partially on the part wondering if your the reason one of your parents are not there as my mother left leaving me feeling unsure and wondering if I was the reason if she left, so I feel as though I can understand how Rocky is feeling and be able to empathise with him.

Through the film, it made me believe that there was a message shone through about child neglect and the importance of a role model. The movie really showed you how it was like living with very little money, not living in luxurious houses as shogun and Boy had dreamed about going and living in the city living a glamorous life “We’re going to the city and the first thing we’ll do when we get there is I’m talking you to see Michael Jackson live”. But it really showed me you can still enjoy and appreciate what you have already, even with the bare minimum you can still live a happy life. The film also showed how much of an impact role models have on us and how they shape us out to be who we are so it is important to find the right role model to follow and not a wrong one “Don’t get her pregnant, you can show her your dick feel her dick, you could even get a hickey,”. Through the film, we could see how Boy thought his father shogun was a role model so he tried to become like him and try to impress his father, later realising it was not worth it and his father isn’t who he thought he really was “I thought I was like you but I’m not, I don’t have any potential”. This happens quite often with people following in the footsteps of someone they really look up to when sometimes they shouldn’t be someone u aspire to be like, as they aren’t a good influence. I’m sure everyone can relate to Boy in a way with thinking that his father is a role model as most children his age and some point would’ve looked up to a loved one at some point or even might still now but just in this case unfortunately for Boy his father wasn’t the man that stepped up to the plate as still acting like a child himself “Can you stop calling me dad it sounds weird”.

This film was based on Boy and his challenges that he had to face and how he faced them the main challenge Boy had to face was his father, realising that his father wasn’t who Boy thought he was wasn’t the man he looked up to. Isn’t someone he should follow is the footsteps of. His father was never there for him and his brother “where were you?”, and most certainly was never there for their mother, leaving her alone to raise one child and another on the way by herself. This tends to happen a lot in New Zealand especially with child neglect, child neglect is a big thing that is happening in society today. lots of people are having children when they aren’t ready and later realising that they cant look after them, leading to child neglect. Boy is oblivious to how his father is till the end of the film when he has the realisation about his father which is all too much for young Boy to take in realising the man he looked up to and aspired to be is the polar opposite to who he thought he was “We don’t muck around with toys and games”.

The title of the film “Boy” is appropriately fitted to the film because its all bout Boy and his realisation about his father this film just follows Boy on his journey of meeting the man he looked up to then understanding that this man isn’t who he hyped him up to be, thinking his dad escaped out of jail “he dug a hole underneath the fence” ” with a spoon” “I thought I was like you but I’m not, I don’t have any potential”. The title is very simple but straight forward it just seems to work really well.

I would recommend this film to anyone because its a child-friendly film, other than a few swear words and a good laugh for adults also, as the father figure in the film acts like a child himself “It’s not fair man these kids get more than we ever got”, but behind all the humour “Get a job man” “there’s none left, you’ve got them all” there is a serious message that can be taken away about the importance of a role model and what affect they have on us and how they make us out to be who we are. Which is important for every to know and take away with them.

I really enjoyed this film I really loved the humour but also the seriousness in it when first watching I didn’t really take much away but, after watching the film a second time I really noticed the messages through the film and it makes you really think about your circumstances and think about who helped make you, who you are. I believe that this film is a very educational film to show students as it has a real impact on people who view it.