The New Boy

Presented by: Lucem House Community Cinema Plus+ St Helens.

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0	ST HELENS: Community Cinema Plus
P	Friday 15th November, 2024
N	7:00pm

Event information

The New Boy is a 2023 Australian drama film written and directed by Warwick Thornton, and starring Aswan Reid as the title character, alongside Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, and Cate Blanchett, who was also a producer of the film. It follows a young Aboriginal Australian orphan boy who is brought into a Christian monastery, run by a renegade nun, where he begins to question his faith and loyalty to his heritage.

Set in 1940s Australia, the story of a nine-year-old Aboriginal orphan boy who arrives in the dead of night at a remote monastery, run by a renegade nun where his presence disturbs the delicately balanced world in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

The story is reported to be inspired by Thornton’s own upbringing as an Aboriginal child attending a Christian boarding school.

Cate Blanchett gives a mesmerising performance as an unconventional, less traditional nun. However, the film’s strongest character is portrayed by newcomer Aswan Reid; one to keep your eyes on as their career is sure to soar. Even though the boy barely speaks, (except for Amen - read into this as you will) his facial expressions are enough to hold each scene.

The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2023.