Boy (NZ 2010) FIlm Review/Essay: Child as Exploited Worker

The film "Boy" by Taika Waititi follows the life of an 11 year old child named Boy. He and his brother Rocky (6) are raised by their grandmother because their mother passed away and their father, an immature deadbeat, ditched them. Boy also lives together with several cousins in which he is the eldest out of the children. Because of this, he can be seen in the film taking on the role of a parent/adult, responsible for the children and meals while his grandmother goes away for an extended period of time. While his grandmother goes away, his father Alamein and two of his father's friends show up at his grandmother's home. Boy is excited to see his father because he has a delusively positive perception of him when in reality his father is immature, self-centred, unloving, irresponsible and is a criminal who leaves a lot to be desired of a parent. After his arrival, there are many instances where the father exploits Boy by making him do his dirty work and serve him. There is a clear role reversal because Boy shows qualities attributed to those of adults while his father acts as a child. The traits of responsibility, independence, reconciliation, kindness is shown by the protagonist Boy while his father Alamein shows none of these qualities, only qualities that reflect an immature child incapable of taking care of himself let alone others. Ultimately, this film shows the child as an "Exploited, underappreciated and oppressed worker in the adult ruling world ." "Boy" was a very enjoyable film. Its use of humour was used very well to display what may be the painful reality of children raised in unideal situations by showing the film from the point of view of a child named Boy. His love of Michael Jackson and day-dreams of what he perceives his father to be which is the opposite of reality is humorous but also shows how some children who idolize their parents are vulnerable to adult exploitation seen in the way Alamein takes advantage of Boy's willingness to do