THE NEW BOY

2023 / 116 min / color

The new film by Warwick Thornton, one of the pre-eminent Aboriginal directors, is set in the 1940s. A nameless boy of Aboriginal descent (an outstanding screen debut from Aswan Reid) ends up in a remote facility for abandoned children supervised by a nun named Eileen (Cate Blanchett). She shows a great deal of empathy and tenderness towards her charges, but she’s also determined to execute her mission of converting young souls to the Christian religion. It’s not always easy, especially since some of the children, including the new boy, don’t speak English, but this particular boy establishes a kind of non-verbal, mystical understanding with her. Fascinated by a beautifully carved crucifix, the young protagonist begins to exhibit unusual powers, becoming a real mystery to Sister Eileen. The New Boy is yet another moving story about Australia’s indigenous people and colonial legacy, following Thornton’s Cannes and Venice award-winning Samson and Delilah (2009) and Sweet Country (2016). This visually stunning film features an atmospheric musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

• Camerimage IFF – Golden Frog