The New Boy (2023) - Post-viewing questions by Leah Quach

Instructions

qu53 — 2025-05-19 01:04:08 UTC

Each table group is assigned a question to discuss and respond to.

Q1: Why does the New Boy remain nameless?

Q2: What is his magic? What might this symbolise?

Q3: After his baptising, he lost his magic. What does this mean?

Q4: We see a lot of religious symbols. Choose ONE (wine, snake, lamb, mice, nail) and discuss its meaning.

Q5: There is a lot of conflict in the film. Choose ONE and discuss what or who is involved.

(Person vs Person

Person vs Society

Person vs Nature

Person vs Self)

Q2 (Jack West and Alex)

2025-05-19 01:33:47 UTC

The boys magic symbolizes the boy unique difference to the rest of society and, how he internally perceives himself as special. Loosing that magic when he is baptized and inducted into "white society".

His ability to perform miracles may be representative of his connection to Christ in relation to the sacrifices Jesus made.

Question 4 - Sheyna, Sofia, Jayla

2025-05-19 01:36:35 UTC

In the Bible, snakes represent evil, and in the film the boy is drawn to them. This shows how they view his indigenous culture as something that is dangerous. They try to instill Christian values into him, however, these clash with his spiritual beliefs, or his magical powers.

after his baptising, he lost his magic. what does this mean?

2025-05-19 01:38:00 UTC

Sister Eileen decided to basptise "the new boy" after he took jesus off the cross, before he was baptisted the boy expresses that he is able to contol sources of light, while after he was bapised he experienced weaknees in his inital powers. Sister Eileen had thought there was something wrong or he may be experiencing signs of the 'devil' so by baptising him she was releasing all the sins and things that he has done, after the church recived its purpose by baptising 'the new boy' he was no longer an outcast but was assimilated with all the other children.

Q1: The reason why the Boy was left nameless for the entire movie was a method of symbolism for the stolen generation. This also represents the boys youth, as it shows his lack of foundation and the how easily it would be to create impressions for him. Finally, it shows how he held on to a piece of him self.

2025-05-19 01:38:51 UTC

Q5 (Frankie, Josh, Joe)

2025-05-19 01:40:38 UTC

At the start of the movie, the new boy ends up in a wild and out of control clash with the police. It all ends in a strange and disturbing moment where he's thrown into a sack and taken away to a remote monastery.

Question 5, Person vs Society

2025-05-19 01:41:12 UTC

In The New Boy, 2023, we witness the duality of Christianity and Indigenous beliefs through Sister Eilieen and the aboriginal boy. The two beliefs also highlight the stark differences between the expectations of the church and the boys ancestors, his spirituality clashes with the orphanage's efforts to assimilate him. These ideas further underline the loss of cultural identity for First Nations peoples in Australia.