THE BOYS ARE BACK
Australia/UK, 2009, 104 minutes, Colour.
Clive Owen, Nicholas Mc Anulty, George Mac Kay, Laura Fraser, Emma Booth, Erik Thomson, Emma Lung, Julia Blake, Natasha Little, Chris Haywood.
Directed by Scott Hicks.
I am very glad I saw The Boys are Back.
The reasons for this statement are personal and stem from my own experience. Since this review/reflection is concerned with the role of a father for his young sons, I thought it best to indicate why this film was so important for me.
We each bring our own experience to the characters of the film and their interactions. Since my mother died when I was seven and my brother five, I was empathising with Artie, the younger boy, but, more importantly, I was finding Clive Owen's portrayal of Joe, the boys' father who was a sports writer (and my father was involved with sport and radio at the time of my mother's death), was helping me to understand and appreciate what my father must have experienced at that time. He changed his life completely, in work and in moving interstate. It is a compliment to The Boys are Back that it had this power to move.
If you were to ask me to say what the film is about, I would answer, 'Parenting'. That may not be the greatest enticement to decide to see the film, but it is important to say it. The film, based on a memoir by Simon Carr (originally set in New Zealand), is about a widowed father having to parent his six year old son (without any preparation or any innate ability to do this) and then cope with the arrival his 14 year old son from a previous marriage. Now, that may not seem the greatest enticement either – but there have not been so many films dealing with a father trying to cope with caring for his children (there was Kramer vs Kramer, but that was 30 years ago). This is an important theme and, with a thoughtful screenplay by Alan Cubitt and with the sure hand of director, Scott Hicks (Shine, Snow Falling on Cedars), it communicates, and entertains, very well. It also avoids falling into sentimentality and contrived romances.
The father, Joe, seems an ordinary bloke. He is something of a 'man's man'. This may have been part of the reason for his leaving his first wife and marrying his second. But, the second marriage and his love for his new wife has been transforming for him. His wife and his little son seem to be a catalyst for his exercising his feelings with greater ease.
Clive Owen, who has often played dour, unsmiling characters (Croupier, King Arthur) then has been transformed into an action hero (The International, Duplicity), now gives a wonderfully sympathetic and nuanced performance as Joe Warr, British sports journalist who re-located to South Australia with his equestrian champion wife, Katy (Laura Fraser). He left behind his son, Harry, with his mother in England but he and Katy have their own son, Artie. We learn at once that Katy had cancer. We see some brief flashbacks and the suffering and pathos of her death. Joe is distraught. Their six year old son, Artie, understands that his mother has died but cannot, self-consciously, deal with it, so his responses are a mixture of the accepting, the sensible and the bewilderingly emotional. Artie is played by Nicholas McAnulty? in a performance that seems completely real. In no way does it seem like a performance. And he and Clive Owen play naturally and persuasively off each other.
What is a father to do in this situation? Joe copes by trying to do the normal things (meals, washing, housekeeping – the latter not well at all) - and show his love at all times for his son, preferring to say yes to his son's wishes and whims rather than say no. He cites this as a principle several times and carries it out with joyful activities. There are some moving and some exhilarating scenes of the two together. He also has a sense of Katy's presence, often giving him advice, filmed in a completely realistic way rather than suggesting anything ghostly. In the background are Katy's parents, Barbara (Julia Blake) who is loving but organised and cautious and Tom (Chris Haywood), the silent, practical type.
Playing with Artie in holiday mode, reality eventually impinges. Joe has to go back to work as the top sports writer for the Adelaide paper (a T world, especially in the stances of the editor) but finds some support from a fellow parent, Laura (Emma Booth), whose daughter becomes great friends with Artie.
The further complication and another step in the theme of parenting arises when 14 year old son, Harry (George Mac Kay in a just right performance), comes to Australia for the holidays: he is tentative, afraid of his father, wondering why he was abandoned, awkward with other children but bonding with Artie.
This tests Joe and his principle of saying 'yes' at all times. It challenges his strong Sensing approach to life, bewildering him at times and suggesting alternate possibilities. This leads to a family crisis, when Joe has to go to Melbourne to cover the Australian Tennis Open. Harry is overwhelmed when teenage friends come to the house and party and trash the house. He feels that he has failed in his responsibilities and returns to England.
Here is the greatest challenge for Joe. Does he want to have both sons with him, foster greater family bonds? Joe has to move out of his ordinary comfort zone in going to England with Artie and offering Harry the possibility of a new life with them. This means frank discussions with Harry and with his mother which writer, director and actors convey with the right blend of emotion and common sense.
Besides having something worthwhile to show and say about family – and emphasising how important presence, attention and, especially, play are for developing children and for parental relationships – the film is a persuasive advertisement for the beauty of South Australia (hills, coast, McLaren? Vale) on the Fleury Peninsula where Scott Hicks, in fact, lives.
1.The impact of the film, emotionally, understanding and empathy for the characters and their situation?
2.The film based on a memoir? Originally set in New Zealand? The transition to Australia and the United Kingdom?
3.The locations on South Australia’s Fleury Peninsula? Its atmosphere, beauty, remoteness, the hills, brown, the coast? The characters in the landscapes? The wine-growing area?
4.The contrast with Adelaide, the newspaper offices? Melbourne, the skyline, the Australian Open?
5.The United Kingdom, the old school, the football fields? The school interiors? Streets, homes? The railway station? The British feel?
6.The title, the tone, the title of the memoir?
7.The realism, the story of the father and sons and the coping? The flashbacks to Katy’s illness, death, grief? The presence of Katy in Joe’s life, his seeing her in ordinary, realistic circumstances? The effect on him?
8.The introduction to Joe and Artie, driving along the beach, people’s reactions, the exhilaration, Artie on the front of the vehicle, splashing? The exuberance? The context for the flashbacks?
9.The back-story with Joe and Katy, Joe married in England, his son, his being a sports commentator, covering the equestrian performances, Katy and her riding? The relationship, her becoming pregnant, Joe’s decision to marry, to go to Australia, his motivation for leaving Harry behind with his mother, for a better life? His first wife’s hostility, the contact by phone, the phone calls to Harry? Relocating, the house, success, happiness, the home, Katy and the black dress for the party, her collapse at the party, the doctors, the hospital, the treatment, at home, her pain, getting up to cut the crust off sandwiches, Artie and his reaction, asking when his mother would die? The pathos of her death?
10.Katy’s parents, Barbara and her grief, her attitude towards Joe, love for Artie, care? Strong on rules, getting things done, rescuing Artie, her severity with Joe, the final crisis and taking the boys in, rebuking Joe? The contrast with Tom, quietly at work, the vineyards, giving the boy a lift, the support for his wife but also for Joe?
11.Joe and his having to face reality, love for his wife and grief, his tenderness towards his son, calling him Sweetheart? Artie’s various moods, being contrary, lying down almost coma-like, their going shopping, cooking, housework, clothes, washing? The issue of discipline and Joe’s generally saying yes, trusting that effect on the welfare and the self-esteem of his son?
12.The decision to go on a holiday, going out, driving, Artie and his moods and tantrums, the food? Together in the rooms, the motels? Managing, shared experiences, the beach, joy?
13.Joe’s work, writing the articles, discussions with the editor? His friendship with Eric, at work? Eric and his own family, entertaining his children? Discussions with Joe, Joe and the clash, yet getting support from Eric and his family? The issue of the tennis Open, the editor wanting him to go, his staying at home, looking at the television, filing his reports from home? The news that the editor was going to Melbourne, the boys saying that he should go, his trying to get somebody to look after them, trusting them at home? Seeing his editor in Melbourne? The crisis, his going home and the editor writing the article?
14.The phone call to Harry, talking with him, Katy’s death? The invitation for Harry to come? His arrival, the airport, the guitar? His age, British manner, quiet? His room, his being online, playing the music? Alone? Gradually making some friends? Playing football with Artie? The bonding with Artie? Talking with his father, wanting to know the reasons for his father’s leaving? His adapting to Australia, his character, being in charge, the house, the shock of the teenagers coming in, wrecking the house? His leaving, loss of self-confidence, going back to England? Artie’s reaction?
15.Joe and Artie going to Britain, going to the school, the plaques on the wall and Joe’s success at school, yet his explaining how he didn’t like it? Harry playing football, not wanting to talk to his father? Reactions? The visit to his wife, her situation, remarriage? The proposal for Harry to come to Australia to live with them? Harry’s considering it, turning it down? The scene at the station, Artie and his reaction, his mother coming with Harry to farewell him?
16.Laura, at school with Artie, the artwork, drawing, Joe and his coming for the school interview, going to Laura, mistaking her for a teacher? Her explanation? Her skills? Her drug-addicted husband, leaving? Her love for Lucy? Helping Joe, minding the children, Barbara’s reaction and suspicions? Artie wanting to move to stay with them, Joe’s tactic in telling him to go at once? Artie becoming jealous, not wanting Lucy to come? Joe talking with Laura, friendship? The film not taking the way of the easy romance?
17.The resolution, Joe and his mistakes, but effective with each boy? Their life, the boys growing up, the sense of family? The grandparents and their communication with both Harry and Artie?
