STORM BOY

Australia, 2019, 109 minutes, Colour.
Finn Little, Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtenay, Erik Thompson, Trevor Jamieson, Morgana Davies, Chantal Contouri, David Gulpilil.
Directed by Shawn Seet.

Storm Boy is based on a very popular novel, read by adults and children, taught in schools, a novel by Colin Thiele. The 1976 film version with Greg Rowe and David Guliplil is a cinema classic, a significant part of the 1970s revival of the Australian film industry.

This version should have a similar appeal for children’s audiences in the 21st century – and, for those 50 or more who saw it when they were children, and for older audiences who probably took the children to see the film in 1976! A wide-ranging appeal.

To reassure those readers who treasure the original story, it can be said that it is all there. Finn Little is an appealing young Michael, the Storm Boy of the title, given his name by his aboriginal friend, Fingerbone Bill (an engaging performance by Trevor Jamieson who appeared in Rabbit Proof Fence and has featured in the television shows, Black Comedy and Cleverman).

And the perennial appeal of pelicans has been preserved, from Michael finding the chicks and deciding to foster them, finding ways of feeding them, giving them names, especially Mr Percival. The chicks grow up, show their skills in beautiful flight. And Mr Percival becomes Michael’s close companion, on the beach, in the house. Michael’s father, Jai Courtenay (The Water Diviner as well as international action drama is) is a recluse after the death of his wife and daughter in a car accident, spending his time fishing, selling the fish in the local shops. And he is sympathetic towards Michael’s love for Mr Percival.

This is most significant in the famous storm scene, quite some special effects for the lightning in the sky, the waves, Tom’s father out fishing, caught in the storm, the boat overturning – and, without spoiling the scene for those who do not know, Mr Percival playing a significant role.

And this is significant for Michael, journalists and photographers tracking him down – and the friends in the shop in town collecting money for him to go to boarding school, something which he does not want, making him antagonistic towards his father, not wanting to be away from Mr Percival.

So, the core of Colin Thiele’s story is there. However, it has quite an extensive 21st-century framework. Michael has grown up, is a grandfather, has returned from overseas and is caught up in business plans for the Pilbera. His granddaughter, Maddy (Morgana Davies) is highly critical of her father, chairman of the board, vents her anger on her grandfather, who is played by a sympathetic Geoffrey Rush. This is the context of Michael’s reminiscing, his being stirred by the memories, remembering the joys, especially with Mr Percival and Fingerbone, his regrets about his hostility towards his father.

This means that the film is very satisfying in the basic story of the boy and his bird. And, it will touch the ideals of younger audiences concerning the environment and its future.

1. The continuing popularity of Colin Thiele’s novel? The classic status of the 1976 film? The changes for a 21st-century presentation? The basic plot and characters? Environmental concerns?

2. The Coorong settings, the lagoons, the ocean? The 90 mile beach? The bush and the hut, and the shore? The breeding grounds for the birds? Storms at sea? The contrast with the town, the streets, the shops? The musical score?

3. The title, as given to Michael by Fingerbone Bill, the aboriginal words? Michael, his age, the flashbacks to his mother and sister, the picnic, in the car, their being killed in the crash? His father, becoming reclusive, fishing, Michael living with him, the basic style in the house? Michael playing in the water, saving the birds, meeting with Fingerbone?

4. The 21st-century framework and environmental concerns, business and capitalism, exploitation? Malcolm, the businessman, the preparation for the board meeting, his plans, the long preparation? His meeting with Michael, wanting his vote? The other members of the board? The plans for the Pilbera? Discussions with the aboriginal people? The need for Michael’s vote?

5. Michael, growing up, returning home, success in business overseas, his love for his granddaughter, meeting her, her challenge about her father and the business, his remembering, telling her his story? The storytelling recurring through the flashbacks? Michael, the effect of remembering, phoning Malcolm, phoning his friend, the plan to delay the vote, his granddaughter’s reaction, support? Their walking around the beaches, rediscovering the ruins of the hut? Their sitting watching the water, watching the pelicans?

6. Michael and the encounter with Fingerbone, his politeness in not coming into the house without meeting Michael’s father, the later meeting, his coming in? Fingerbone and his story, the arranged marriage, his refusal, his having to leave his home, wandering? The flashbacks and the scenes with his father (and the cameo from David Gulplili)?

7. Michael, the finding the best for the chicks, tending them, the presence of the hunters, ruthless, the shooting, the two men and their campaign against the formation of a sanctuary, in the marshes, their shootings, building up to the confrontation with Mr Percival?

8. Michael, the care for the birds, splattering the fish, his being able to feed the birds, the fish on his fingers? Scenes of the growing, changing, his giving of names, Mr Percival and his continued presence? The bond between boy and bird?

9. Michael’s father, Tom, Hideaway, the effect of his wife’s and daughter’s death, fishing, going into town, the sympathetic shopkeepers? His sympathy towards his son, Fingerbone, the birds? His going fishing, being caught in the storm, the vividness of the effects of the storm, Michael and his plan, the rope, Mr Percival flying, dropping the rope for Tom, his being pulled in and saved?

10. The publicity about the story, Michael in town, sitting on the wooden path, the journalists, photographers, autographs? The couple in the shop and the collecting the money for him to go to school?

11. Michael and his reaction, not wanting to go to school, his antipathy towards his father, and his later regrets at not having reconciled, his going away and never returning?

12. The hunters, Mr Percival, his death, breaking the connection for Michael?

13. The film keeping the basic story from the original? The boy, his father, the bird, Fingerbone, the coast? And adding the further story, Michael and the subsequent history, separation from his father and the coast, business – and his intervening at the board meeting, getting the support to delay the vote? And the bond with his granddaughter?