It's already the third week of NZ Love (yay!) Time flies when you're having fun, huh! This week I want to share an amazing NZ film called 'Boy' that came out nearly a year ago. I saw this ridiculously sweet film in a tiny movie theater in New Plymouth (west coast of the North Island of NZ) that seemed like it hadn't been refurbished since it was built, had no allocated seating (first in, best seat) and the arm rests were sticky. But every seat was filled and I think it was a perfect setting to watch such a genuine, heartfelt yet hilarious film. It turned out to be the highest grossing New Zealand film of all time. Of. all. time! Amazing- and it totally deserves it.

The story: an 11 year old boy (called...Boy..) who is obsessed with Michael Jackson, and his little brother Rocky (who has superpowers) get to know their dad, Alamein, when he comes back from 7 years of being away 'doing some pretty important stuff' overseas (or in jail.) Alamein turns up with two mates who collectively make up the 'new NZ gang' The Crazy Horses. The boys soon learn that he may not be the hero they imagined him to be.

The film is set in 1984 in Waihau Bay, a small coastal bay in the East Cape- home to a country store, a hotel bar and somewhere to buy petrol. (The director and actor who plays the dad, Taita Waititi, actually grew up there.)

I won't give any more away because you simply have to watch it, it's just such a perfect, earnest account of young East Cape NZ life in the eighties.  

Extra awesomeness: The Crazy Horses website is a perfect parody of gang culture and has some hilarious videos about being in a gang. 

Find it here on Netflix or go old school and rent it from the video shop! :)

This is definitely in my top ten films and I have to admit it makes me a tiny bit homesick watching the trailer! If you watch it or have seen it already I'd love to hear what you think :)

xo Zo