The latest Australian buzz film is The Boys Are Back directed by Scott Hicks (of Shine success). Adapted from the memoirs of Simon Warr, The Boys Are Back follows the trials and tribulations of sole fatherhood, as ex-pat journalist, Joe Warr (Clive Owen) finds himself raising his sons alone after the early death of his Australian wife.
This is not the first film to examine this topic recently, but The Boys Are Back is probably the only one which considers the impact of loss and restructuring on a family’s everyday life. With the death of Katy (Laura Fraser) - Joe’s second wife - dealt with rather quickly and unsentimentally at the beginning of the film, the focus is solely on Joe and his parenting skills.
Left to look after his 6 yrs old son, Artie (Nicholas McAnulty), Joe is determined to make a connection with the child, rejecting offers of help from his mother-in-law (Julia Blake). But he has no idea of the realities of being a single father, lacking the ability to reassure Artie, a child he has so infrequently parented after years of relegating fatherhood to weekends whilst he pursued his career.
click here to read my full review at Onya
