December Boys

Based on the novel by Michael Noonan and released in 2007, December Boys tells the story of four orphan boys and their adventures one summer in the 1960's. The boys share birthdays in the month of December, which is where the feature film gets its title, and get a chance to travel to a seaside town on holiday.

The four boys (Maps, Misty, Spark and Spit) stay with Mr and Mrs McAnash, and befriend Fearless and Teresa, a couple who cannot have children due to a motorbike accident. The four youngest boys befriend Teresa, but Maps finds teenager Lucy more interesting. Misty overhears Fearless talking about the possibility of adopting one of the boys, and they all start competing for the love of the couple.

Maps does not participant and instead spends more and more time with Lucy, until she leaves unexpectantly one morning. Maps goes to the carnival to speak to Fearless, and discovers he has been lying about his occupation. Upset and furious, Maps returns to the Cove and after a fight with Misty, the boys go their separate ways.

After a heart-to-heart with Fearless, Maps returns to the beach to find out that Misty is drowning. Despite the fact that he cannot swim, Maps jumps in after him in attempt to save his friend. Both boys nearly drown, but are grabbed Fearless and dragged to safety.

Fearless and Teresa announce which orphan they would like to adopt, leaving the boys with the possibility of losing one of their friends. Instead of staying in the cove with Fearless and Teresa, the chosen boy decides to stay with his friends and return to the orphanage.

Decades later, three of the December Boys go back to the cove to scatter the ashes of Maps, who died helping refugees in Africa.

December Boys is an emotional, coming-of-age drama that has been beautifully filmed and acted. It's main characters are quirky and unique, allowing the viewer to empathise and relate to them. It should not be missed.