Set in 1940s Australia, The New Boy stars Cate Blanchett as as a nun overseeing a remote Christian orphanage and introduces Aswan Reid as the titular New Boy, a nine-year-old Aboriginal orphan with mysterious powers. The ensemble cast also includes Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair, alongside a group of young First Nations actors making their film debuts.

Directed by Warwick Thornton, The New Boy world premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. It will be released in select theaters in the US on May 23rd followed by on demand on May 30th.

The official synopsis describes the film as follows: The New Boy takes place in 1940s Australia at a remote monastery with a mission for Aboriginal children run by a renegade nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett). A new charge (Aswan Reid) is delivered in the dead of night – a boy who appears to have special powers. However, the boy’s Indigenous spiritual life does not mesh with the mission’s Christianity and his mysterious power becomes a threat. Sister Eileen is faced with a choice between the traditions of her faith and the truth embodied in the boy, in this story of spiritual struggle and the cost of survival.

Critics have offered varied perspectives on the film, with John Nugent of Empire Magazine describing the film as “a gentle, odd little Australian fable.” He commends Cate Blanchett’s portrayal of Sister Eileen, highlighting her “fascinating nervous energy” and “quiet cunning.” Aswan Reid’s performance as the New Boy is praised for its unguarded authenticity, with Nugent stating that the film “plays through his lively eyes.” However, he points out that the film’s ambiguity and slow pacing may leave viewers seeking clearer narrative direction.

Peter Gray of The AU review offers a more favorable view, calling the film “a fascinating, symbolic look at colonisation and religious autonomy.” He highlights Blanchett’s “tender and, at-times, particularly humorous performance” and emphasizes the film’s visual beauty, stating that it “showcases the quaint, vast landscape of the Australian outback.” Gray acknowledges that the film’s metaphorical approach may feel “a little oversaturated” by the end but appreciates Thornton’s commitment to the story.

Watch the official trailer for The New Boy.