It would be all too easy to pigeonhole this 70s-set drama that revolves around a traumatic coming-of-age for four young boys in a bucolic setting as a Welsh Stand By Me: a handy descriptor but one that misses the point.
Writer-director Jon Jones’s work has some subtlety, although it comes perilously close to the water’s edge of maudlin sentiment, and does, in fact, wet its toes, especially in the final stages. But the performances from the pre-adolescent cast are striking and powerful enough to win this some serious regard, and at the very least a place in the viewing queue for casting agents looking for young talent.
In this strong ensemble Noa Thomas stands out as Davy, a kid of 13 or so who spends his long summer days hanging out with his brother Iwan (Gruffydd Weston) and two brothers from the neighbouring farm, Rhys (Rowan Jones) and Robbie (Christopher Benning). After a fine day’s exploring the woods with Rhys and Robbie’s frisky, near uncontrollable sheepdog Rex (the unimaginative name is in itself a great period detail), tickling fish and stalking a barn owl, a horrific tragedy happens out of nowhere.
Jones holds tight on Thomas as Davy bears witness to the aftermath, torn between a desire to help and a sense of impotence in a suddenly much more serious, far more inexplicable world than the one he woke up in. The camerawork reflects and mimics his point of view but doesn’t overdo it.
The endgame is judiciously judged. While Weston’s Iwan is a touch too optimistic, you get the sense that Jones truly understands and treasures the foolish heroism of young boys.
