BOSCH & ROCKIT

Australia, 2021, 106 minutes, Colour.

Luke Hemsworth, Rasmus King, Isabel Lucas, Leeanna Walsman, Savannah La Rain, Heather Mitchell, Martin Sacks.

Directed by Tyler Atkins.

There was a time in Australian history, thinking back to the 1950s, when we expected families to be a united group, no separations or divorces, the bonding between parents and children, loving obedience from children to parents. But, we might ask, was it ever so?

These questions are significant for this story of a father and son, Bosch, Luke Hemsworth, the father and Rasmus King, Rockit, the son. The mother has walked out on them years earlier. Perhaps a more realistic scenario these days.

There are two strands of the story going on and audience response will depend on which strand they find the more interesting, the strand they relate with better, become emotionally involved.

Taking the title, there is the Bosch strand. It turns out that he has an extraordinarily large marijuana plantation out in the New South Wales countryside. He has a team of mates working with him, rough and tumble despite the money that they are making. His son Rockit lives with him but knows nothing of the marijuana, spending a lot of his time surfing (and his father joining him in the surfing). The film becomes something of a drama when corrupt police want to persuade Bosch to cut in market cocaine and he refuses, under threat from the police, then the plantation engulfed by a bushfire and his having to take the money and run. So his story involves taking Rockit for a holiday to Byron Bay, staying undercover, the police in pursuit, his trying to do the best by his son but the corrupt police pursuing him.

On the other hand, because Rockit is such a strong screen presence, and this is a story of a teenager who has memories of his mother but she has left him, admires his father, loves the surf, doesn’t do well at school because he can’t read well and is bullied, called Dumdum, is delighted when his father takes him to Byron Bay for a holiday, meets a young girl and they become friends, rocket having no idea about what his father really does and prone to believe his father story that he is actually a spy and bound to secrecy. For a time, he is with his mother, but she drinks, he clashes with her.

So, the combination of drug dealer, police pursuit and intervention and the story of an adolescent boy. And, filmed attractively in the countryside, at Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads.

In checking on whether Rasmus King does his own surfing or has a surf double, it emerges that he comes from a surfing family, actually from Byron Bay, his older brother a qualified champion and the family move around Australia and to the US to the various venues for surfing competitions. Rasmus King does his own surfing.

This is not a film that stands out and demands to be seen. And, there is a great deal of ambiguity in the character of Bosch and his relationship with his son and his former criminal activities. But, it looks good, and raises, without solving, the issues of parenting and the influence on children.

1. The title and expectations? Names for father and son? The tone?
2. The colourful locations, country towns, homes and schools, the marijuana plantation, the sorting centre? Driving through the countryside? Byron Bay, the coast? Brunswick Heads? The musical score?
3. The importance of surfing, the surfing sequences, the beaches, the waves, the atmosphere of the coast? Rasmus King and his surfing?
4. Audience interest in Bosch’s story, Rockit’s story?
5. Rockit’s story, his age, at school, being called dumdum, not fighting back, his father urging him to fight, sending the student to hospital? Avoiding school? His not being able to read? His missing his mother, memories of her, her disappearance, wanting to see her again? His bond with his father, not knowing about the marijuana? Spending his time surfing? His skill?
6. Bosch’s story, the plantation, extensive, the range of workers, ordinary mates? The money? The corrupt police, his friend from school, the pressure to cut and sell the cocaine, his refusal? His bond with Rockit, concern, surfing with him? The fire, the destruction, his getting as much money as possible, the cocaine? Driving away?
7. Father and son, escaping the law, escaping the corrupt police, going to Byron Bay, the enjoyment of camping on the beach, the surfing?
8. And with Deb, the photos, her mother, the hotel, booking in, Deb and her friendship, the relationship with Bosch? With Rockit? The easy life, the surfing, driving to Brunswick Heads?
9. The arrival of the corrupt police, the pressure on Bosch, the attack, his having to escape again? The boss and his pressure on the younger man, abusive, threats, the friend and his taking the gun to Bosch, unable to shoot him? The phone call, and his putting in the corrupt boss?
10. Rockit, at Byron Bay, the meeting with Ash, at the hotel, going for walks, the attraction, friendship, his calling her Ash Ash, spending the time together, ice cream, their confiding in each other, her background, his mother? Her having to leave?
11. His father, the story about his being a spy? Rockit believing it? His father taking him to his mother, a character, drinking, taking him in, unable to deal with him, his response to her, the clashes?
12. Her taking him to his uncle? The prawns, the boat? In fact going to his father? Her being unable to handle him?
13. Rockit and his going to the boat, getting the jobs, enjoying the work? Seeing the boat for Fiji, the possibility for his father’s escape? His finding out the truth, disillusioned with his father, yet loving him?
14. The chance encounter with Ash again, their bonding again, the touch of love, the kiss?
15. Rockit farewelling his father, his father safety, Rockit and his future?