It sounds like the biggest film cliche ever, but New Zealand film-maker Welby Ings does something subtle and tender with this in his sensitive feature debut. Oosterhof’s effortlessly persuasive performance shows his gentleness and curiosity about the world – Jim passes for jock but has a poetic soul and an emotional life too. Whetu is bravely and defiantly queer in the face of town bullies; there’s homophobic hate crime that’s upsetting, but to me didn’t feel gratuitous or exploitative. Punch is a film that draws on two traditions: gay coming-of-age drama and sports movie, perhaps leaning more to the former with its dreamy wistful cinematography and nostalgic mood. Still, it packs an emotional punch; the delicacy of its feelings is compelling.

Source: Punch November 08, 2023 09:15 UTC