December
Boys is the latest memoir adaptation to hit the small screen
via DVD, based on a book of the same name by Brisbane author Michael
Noonan.
Filmed almost entirely on location in South Australia,
December Boys charts a special summer beach holiday for
our young boys growing up in a remote outback orphanage in the
1960s.
Hosted by Bandy and his wife (Jack Thompson and
Kris McQuade) in their beachside shack, Maps, Spit, Misty and
Sparks (Radcliffe, James Fraser, Lee Cormie and Christian Byers
respectively) enjoy a break away from the doldrums of the orphanage,
making friends with the next door neighbours and local girl, Lucy
(Teresa Palmer).
Tension
builds though as the boys learn that neighbouring couple Teresa
& Fearless (Victoria Hill and Sullivan Stapleton) are considering
adopting one of the boys, and they start to compete for the ultimate
prize – a family.
December Boys is a reasonably typical
coming of age story, with particular emphasis on mateship and
the strong bond of childhood friends. The production design and
cinematography are beautiful, and the score and setting transport
audiences back to a simpler time
Were it not for Radcliffe’s top billing, this
film would probably have passed through cinemas without much fanfare.
His inclusion however brought more media attention, and a larger
audience that should translate into the DVD format.
Quite suitable for most children over the age of
12, December Boys will leave you feeling sentimental
for those long rambling summer holidays we all enjoyed as kids.
Belinda Yench
To see the trailer for December
Boys, click the play button below:
December
Boys is the latest memoir adaptation to hit the small screen
via DVD, based on a book of the same name by Brisbane author Michael
Noonan. 
Tension
builds though as the boys learn that neighbouring couple Teresa
& Fearless (Victoria Hill and Sullivan Stapleton) are considering
adopting one of the boys, and they start to compete for the ultimate
prize – a family.