December Boys (2007)

December Boys Poster

For many years, four teenage orphans at an Australian outback convent have watched their younger comrades find new parents, and realize that they may never be adopted. The Reverend Mother sends the four boys away on a seaside vacation, where they meet Teresa and Fearless, a couple who would make perfect parents. The youths compete with one another to be the one Teresa and Fearless decide to adopt.

Movie Summary
"December Boys" is an Australian drama film released in 2007, directed by Rod Hardy and was based upon the novel of the exact same name by Michael Noonan. It features an expressive narrative set in the 1960s, depicted through the life experiences of four orphan kids - Maps, Misty, Spark, and Spit.

Plot Details
The film begins by providing the young boys' life at the outback Catholic orphanage. Each of these young boys was born in the month of December, making them their group nickname, the "December Boys". Their routine life takes a turn when they get an unexpected summertime getaway, a trip to the seaside area of south Australia, as a donation from a benefactor. Henry, the earliest among them, nicknamed Maps, begins a romantic dalliance with Lucy, a lady they fulfill on the beach.

The Hope of Adoption
The main plot thickens when the kids discover that a young couple, Fearless and Teresa, staying nearby were considering embracing a kid. Each boy, hoping to be chosen, indulges in various steps to prove the 'most deserving', other than for Maps who is drawn towards a life of freedom. This occasion functions as a wake-up call for them causing blended sensations of hope, jealousy, and desperation.

Coming-of-Age Experiences
While the adoption drama plays out, the 'December Boys' browse other trials and adversities characteristic of their transition into teenage years. Maps finds the heartbreak of puppy love when Lucy betrays him for another older boy. At the same time, the boys are exposed to realities beyond their orphanage life, consisting of the secrets of sex, love, faith, and relationship.

Conclusion
Towards completion, the youngest boy Misty ends up being the wanted option for Fearless and Teresa. However, Misty decreases the adoption deal wanting to stay with his bros. The film concludes with an elderly Misty (orphanage-grown-up) reminiscing about that life-changing summer. He exposes he eventually was embraced by the couple, but after some years when he had grown guaranteed that he 'd never ever lose his bond with his December brothers.

"December Boys", with its mentally loaded narrative, perfectly catches the essence of brotherhood, the pangs of maturing and the yearning for a household. The movie utilizes the spectacular Australian outback as a background, including depth and texture to the narratives of these young kids. It's an appealing coming-of-age film that links the styles of love, adoption, and the trials of adolescence perfectly. Although the motion picture didn't fare very well commercially, it got gratitude for catching the bond of brotherhood and coming-of-age experiences deftly, and is especially remembered for its lead performance by Daniel Radcliffe, who was simultaneously filming the Harry Potter series.

Top Cast

  • Daniel Radcliffe (small)
    Daniel Radcliffe
    Maps
  • Lee Cormie (small)
    Lee Cormie
    Misty
  • Christian Byers (small)
    Christian Byers
    Sparks
  • James Fraser (small)
    James Fraser
    Spit
  • Jack Thompson (small)
    Jack Thompson
    Bandy
  • Teresa Palmer (small)
    Teresa Palmer
    Lucy
  • Sullivan Stapleton (small)
    Sullivan Stapleton
    Fearless
  • Victoria Hill (small)
    Victoria Hill
    Teresa
  • Max Cullen (small)
    Max Cullen
    Narrator / Adult Misty
  • Kris McQuade (small)
    Kris McQuade
    Mrs. McAnsh
  • Carole-Anne Fooks
    Sister Edna