A dark-horse hit at the Sundance Film Festival, Son of Rambow is a charming and insightful story of friendship, childhood, boundaries, and making movies—all wrapped up in a smart British bow.

Set squarely in the 1980s, we find ourselves with Will Proudfoot, the son of a widowed mother whose family are Plymouth Brethren. Not allowed to watch television or listen to music, he’s teased mercilessly at school but still manages to keep a positive and curious attitude. A doodling addict, his mind is filled with stories and characters that he draws on everything from scrap paper to notepads to his favorite bathroom stall. He is most prolific in drawing on the pages of his Bible. Dinosaurs and monsters, people on adventures, happy homes and landscapes, it is all reminiscent of the painstakingly illustrated medieval texts from the monasteries…. the difference being these are not images from Bible stories, but from the intricate dreams and fantasies of a young and secluded boy.

Enter Lee Carter, the mean-as-spit school bully who lives with his older bully of a brother while his mother gallivants around Europe with some new fling. When Carter heckles Will in the hall and they are both sent to the principal’s office, Carter convinces the impressionable Will that he’ll take the blame if Will promises to make it up to him.

Carter’s demand is that Will be the stunt man in his re-making of Rambo for a young filmmakers’ contest. As Will sees a pirated copy of Rambo—the first media experience of his life—he is stunned and utterly taken in. He will be the Son of Rambow (his misspelling) and rescue his Dad from evil! Carter has created a crazed lead character for his film.

An unlikely friendship develops between the two boys as conflict develops at home for Will. He starts lying to his mother and to the Brethren to be able to spend time with Carter and make the movie. As more students want to get involved in the film and Will gets into deeper lies with his family and church, he has to decide what is most important. Is it making the film, or staying true to a friend? Is it honoring his mother and his faith, or is it living in his gifts and being true to himself?

Rambow raises these issues of childhood and life with a fresh and light hand. While certainly not rough in anyway, a la Kids or 13, nothing feels forced or syrupy even when the kids become blood brothers and Will loses a prized possession. Rather, the film creates tender moments while never losing its humor. It deftly follows Will’s and Carter’s developing characters (and bond) with a believable complexity and insight into young boys and their social dynamics.

It also does an impressive job of not completely demonizing a religious belief system. While the Brethren are certainly set far outside the culture and many of their rules seem archaic and overly cautious, they are never portrayed as intentionally cruel or barbaric. They are seen as perhaps out of touch and needlessly scared of society, but they are not seen as evil overlords taking all joy and good out of the world. At worst, they are just misguided and stiff.

Other impressive work is done by all the young actors in the films, especially the two leads. They appear as real boys, not some version of what an adult imagines a boy to be. And, as with the issues the film deals with, none of the performances are forced or over-the-top. They have surprising nuance and wit not often seen in child actors.

All of this makes for a wonderfully different film that families can watch and enjoy together. It hits just the right note on universal issues of not only growing up but of being in true relationship with oneself and with others.

Son of Rambow is rated PG-13 for “some violence and reckless behavior.” Yes, kids, don’t try this at home!

Courtesy of a local publicist, Jennie attended a press screening of Son of Rambow.