Boyhood (film review)

The most likeable film I have seen for ages! Boyhood takes six year old Ellar Coltrane through his fictional Texan life until his first day in college. The project took 12 years to make, the actors reunite every few years to grow older and go through their relationship changes and housemoves. Ethan Hawke as the hippy musician divorced dad who grows more serious and settles down with the daughter of Bible bashing farmers is particularly real-seeming. Music and part-time dadhood are the constants in his life, everything else is leaves in the wind.

Richard Linklater, the director chose his young actor well and included Ellar's own creative realities in the making of Boyhood. Ellar hates Facebook and loves photography, winning a scholarship in this to uni. He is also a lovely mix of youthful dreaminess and upfront Texan candour.

Boyhood feels like a make-believe photo, never judging the actors or manipulating our morals and emotions; simply showing human changes through time.