Frantz
Hmm, I actually thought you were going to like it even more than I did. I'm especially surprised that you seem to characterize it as a romance. That seemed me to more a subplot in a story that was more about grief, guilt, redemption, and the echoing horrors of war.
I might have to start a spoiler thread to talk more about the use of color. I guess I'll wait to see if more people give this film a look (or have already).
pixote
I agree that the point of the film has nothing to do with romance, that is just the scaffolding of the film, while it is pointing at grief and patriotism and family. I can speak more about it in a spoiler thread.
BoyThis is the time for Taika Waititi, having three hit movies in a row, so I decided to explore his older films. Boy is the nickname of the title character, an 11 (?) year old whose mother died and father is just not there, so he and his brother and cousins are raised, off and on, by their grandmother. Boy is then visited by his father, a ne'er do well and wannabe criminal who is full of bluster and excuses.
Boy is a silly comedy, exploring both real family and surrogate family and a kid who has to raise himself. It feels like Waititi is warming up for grander things, as if Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the grander and funnier sequel to this film. But as an actor, he really shines as Alamein, the father of Boy. He is a child-man, not any more mature than Boy himself, and he is hilarious. It makes me realize that he is the anti-Tarantino, the director whose performance in the film enlivens and even inspires a film, a truly great comedic performer.
Apart from his performance, Boy just seems like a noble effort, a flash of genius for things to come.
3/5