Putting the subject matter in a context that any age can truly understand, the film The Boy in the Woods personifies. Extraordinary and poignant, the movie dramatizes the enormity of the defiance by the tyrants that were the Nazis. Nicely directed by Rebecca Snow she doesn’t over burden the viewer with unneeded references to WWII, but centers on the most delicate issue of a regime gone mad. This is a true story.
Twelve-year-old Max (Jett Klyne) has, like most Jewish youngsters during the German extermination, been caught up in the unbelievable. That being reasonably confused about the persecution that his family and friends have been receiving. The band on his arm reminds him each day that there is danger and spite without knowledge of why.
On this misfortunate day we find Max, his younger sister Zonia (Emersyn O’Neill) and mother (Katherine Fogler) being hurried by Nazi army officers to board a truck that will take them to their death. His mother knows this and she is panicky that this may be their end. Taking a chance that she can at least save her son Max, she implores him to escape when the officer gets distracted. She tells him to find his aunt in a close by village for safety. But what begins to be a light in the tunnel is a courageous choice to take his chances in the woods.
So begins a true story told by Holocaust survivor Maxwell Smart who lives in South Florida today. Guided by Rebecca Snow, the two of them dig into the soul of the project with one objective, to show what young men can do to defy an unimaginable fate worse than death. She holds nothing back, even depicting untenable choices that seem senseless, but in reality offset reason.
The acting by the whole cast is very good, especially Jett Klyne who gives the finest performance of his young career. As Max he depicts the horror that a youngster faces in a world gone mad. He shows the boy’s cunning and determination to live under extreme pressure from all sides caused by a fate that has been thrust upon him. A challenging role for any actor, this young man proves himself throughout the film.
Richard Armitage gives a believable performance as the Christian family head who takes the boy in and passes him off as his son to save Max’s life. It’s a pivotal role as it shows how overbearing the German officers were towards the Polish peasants who put themselves in harm’s way to try and save Jews from eminent death.
In a newsy note: Maxwell Smart, who lived the ordeal, recently attended the showings of The Boy in the Woods at The Movies of Delray, Florida and Movies of Lake Worth, Florida. The movie is being rolled out in select theaters at this time, so check your local listings.
The Boy in the Woods has not been rated, but contains some war violence, persecution and alarming situations. The film should be acceptable for mature youngsters through adults. A not to miss film, my rating is 5 STARS.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Jett Klyne, Richard Armitage, David Kohlsmith, Katherine Fogler
Directed and co-written by: Rebecca Snow
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hr. 36 min.
Opening Date: March 19, 2024
Distributed by: Menemsha Films
Released in: Now Playing at the Movies of Delray and Movies of Lake Worth in Florida
