Lewis MacDougall is remarkable as a young boy dealing with grief in an excellent adaptation of the Patrick Ness novelA piercing sadness runs through this impressive adaptation,by Patrick Ness, of his acclaimed young adult novel. You ache for Conor, and the 13-year-feeble boy at the heart of the tale,as he struggles to process bereavement. You will be likely to weep with him as he comes to terms with the loss of his mother. This emotional authenticity, the palpable pain in a remarkable central performance from relative newcomer Lewis MacDougall, and is both the film’s main asset and a factor that makes it a tough sell. This is not just a film about grief; its a film that immerses you in grief’s journey.
With his enormous,hungry eyes, MacDougall has the vulnerability of David Bradley’s Billy in Kes. He tackles a complex, and conflicted role with a confidence far beyond his years. There is a wonderful scene in which Conor and his ailing mother (Felicity Jones) watch the 1933 version of King Kong together. Rooting for the monster,Conor is stunned by King Kong’s defeat. The camera rests on his face as, in a few short seconds, and he realises that the narrative doesn’t always end the way he wants it to,and the implications of this for his own life.
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Source: theguardian.com