1.5 formal writing

Child neglect is a form of child abuse that happens worldwide and even in our country. It is a problem in the world today and should be taken into consideration. In the movie Boy child neglect is shown through the actions of the main characters father, Shogun. Boy was once believed that his father was a role model and someone he could look up to but it is at the bridge scene is where he comes to the realisation that his father is not a role model but only returned to Waihau Bay for loot that he once buried, not for his children. During the bridge scene there are 3 cinematography techniques used to show boys realisation, flashbacks, music, and camera shots. I believe that no child should be subjected to some form of abuse in their lifetime.

In the movie, there are 3 sets of flashbacks during the significant bridge scene. All 3 are played in Boy’s head as he comes to the realisation that his father was absent in times that a father should have been present in. The first flashback is played and we can see the mother and Boy sitting on a tree branch enjoying the view with the bridge in the background. In the second flashback we can see Boy and the mother on the beach and we can see the mother with her hand on her baby while she is still pregnant. In the third flashback we can see Boy peering into the room as the mother had just given birth to rocky and passed away from childbirth. In all 3 flashbacks Shogun was absent when he should’ve been present in these situations like a good father.

This movie relates to child neglect. Watching these flashbacks we can see that Shogun is neglecting his son, Boy. This is because he was not there to provide emotional support for Boy and was absent instead. Child neglect does still happen in New Zealand today. Numbers from scoop.co.nz stated in a report that by 17 years old 23.5% of children have been exposed to some sort of child neglect, affecting their welfare and 10% have been exposed to child abuse. 3% of all have been put into foster homes or orphanages to keep them away from their parents. Out of these numbers, most came out to be Boys, and the main character is a boy. I stated that mostly boys are affected to relate child neglect to the movie even more.

Another cinematography technique that Taika Waititi uses to show Boys realisation is using music. Taika choses a song that has specific lyrics that help tell us Boys situation. The song played in the background during the bridge scene is called ‘Amazing Grace’ which is a hymn to praise God. The song is first off played in a quiet volume and as the scene progresses the song starts to get louder. And as Boy is about to fall backwards into the bridge the song starts to fade into a rippling noise. But the important thing about the chosen song is the lyrics in the song. In the song one of the lyrics says ‘was blind but now I see.’ This refers to Boy being blind and not knowing what his father really was but now he realises this and now ‘he sees’ who his father really is. Another set of lyrics that tell us this is ‘I once was lost but now I’m found.’ ‘Lost’ refers to boy being lost because he would always think that his father was amazing and he was a good man who did a lot of cool things in his life but now he is ‘found’ because he now comes to the realisation that his father is not a role model but a selfish man who has no desires to stay with his children and only for his own greed.

The music tells us that boy has experienced child neglect through the lyrics of the song. The director has intentionally chosen this song because of its lyrics. The lyrics tell us that boy was once a happy boy who dreamed that his father was a great man who he looked up to be as a role model but comes to the realisation that he is a greedy man who is always absent and has no care for his children. We know that shogun doesn’t care for his children because of the way he treats them as he lacks to show how to be a good parent. This relates to child neglect as well because he is neglecting his children through lacking emotional support for his child. Child neglect still happens in New Zealand, and according to Unicef New Zealand has one of the worst rates of child abuse in a developed country. 150,000 children have been reported to have problems with their welfare in New Zealand.

Another cinematography Taika Waititi used is close up shots. During the bridge scene, after every flashback there is a close up shot on Boys eyes as he looks up into the sky and starts to fall backwards. Each shot shows that Boy is starting to realise what his father has done to him. He is realising how much Shogun, his father has been uninvolved in his life. The director chooses to close up on his eyes because he is now seeing the truth. Towards the start of the movie he was blind and unaware of what his father was like at the start, but now he starts to see the truth and closing up on the eyes is a way that the director shows that he now sees the truth.

It is at the bridge scene is where he finds out that his father is not a role model and has been neglecting him the whole time. Shots are zoomed into his eyes and we can see that he is starting to realise the true realisation of his father. Not only was his father absent during times when he should have been present in but he has been neglecting his son throughout the whole time and he had not realised it. Child neglect happens in our country too. According to stuff.co.nz a child is sent to the hospital every second day from injuries from child abuse/child neglect.

Child neglect still happens in NZ today and there are many stats and numbers to prove that. In the movie Boy, shogun is showing one of the ways child neglect is shown through his actions. At the beginning of the movie we can see that Shogun is absent and Boy looked up to him as a role model and a hero. But it is at the bridge scene is when he realises that Shogun is not a role model and has been neglecting his children the whole time. His realisation is shown through flashbacks, closeups and the music’s lyrics played during the scene. Child neglect still happens in New Zealand today and this movie relates really well to that. Shogun lacked to show emotional support and mental support for his children and cared more about himself than his children and that is not what a father should do. As of the main message of the story, the importance of a role model, we can see that this message is shown really well through the actions that the children take from the influence of the father.

Child neglect happens around the world and it is not ok. I am very lucky that I am not exposed to child neglect and I am very grateful. The movie Boy shows how child neglect is portrayed and gives us a good idea of what its like for the victim being subjected to child neglect. The main character Boy went from looking up to his father as a role model to realising that he is not a role model but is only focused on himself more than his children.