Following the story of two friends who meet under unfortunate circumstances, RaMell Ross’s feature film achieves remarkable milestones in both filmmaking and storytelling.
By: Kaia Mann, Editor-in-chief
The heartbreaking Nickel Boys weaves hope and despair into a gripping tale of friendship forged in the face of unimaginable adversity, confronting the lingering traumas of the past and reminding audiences that history’s darkest chapters are far from closed.
Adapted from Colson Whitehead's 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, 'Nickel Boys' follows Elwood (Ethan Herisse), an intelligent black teenager in early-'60s Florida who unjustly lands in a brutal reform school (based on an actual, infamous institution). There, he meets streetwise teen Turner (Brandon Wilson), and the two forge a bond as they navigate an institution designed to break them.
Nickel Boys marks RaMell Ross’s narrative feature debut, standing out both technically and thematically while earning acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
What sets Nickel Boys apart is its point-of-view, first-person perspective. The camera acts as the character's eyes, presenting events as they see and feel them. This paired with the naturalistic music of Scott Alario and Alex Somers immerses audiences in the cruel world of Nickel. Moments of peace—Elwood watching the blue sky drift past through the branches of a fruit tree or finding comfort in his grandmother’s kitchen—create a vivid sense of place and security. When that world is shattered by injustice and cruelty, the pain feels all the more profound.
While some could argue this style of filmmaking emphasizes gimmick more than story, they would be mistaken in the case of Nickel Boys. The dreamlike essence of the film supports its narrative tale of painful recollection, blurring the lines between memory and reality.
The fictional Nickel Academy is based on the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a real-life reform school in Florida that operated for over a century after its founding in 1900 before getting shut down In 2011. Though Elwood and Turner’s story is fictional, it represents just one of countless untold tragedies buried within the nation’s dark and deeply twisted past.
The powerful, yet gentle, performances of Herisse and Wilson shine. Herisse cradles Elwood’s character, capturing his evolution from a hopeful high school student, deeply inspired by his teacher to reject a whitewashed version of history and embrace the civil rights movement, to his harrowing time at Nickel Academy, where he clings to his idealism despite the cruelty around him.
Wilson’s Turner provides a slightly more cynical perspective that is still imbued with a certain softness. This softness, carried throughout the entire movie, is what sets it apart from so many other films revolving around the transgressions faced by the black community.
In its 2-hour and 20-minute runtime, Nickel Boys delivers a powerful, decade-spanning story that echoes the traumas of the past, still ever-present today. The immersive filmmaking and committed performances solidify all involved as talents to watch. While the horrific events and real-life inspirations serve as a dark mark in the nation's history, the quiet beauty of Nickel Boys shines bright.
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