BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE (Aus. 2024)

An astoundingly creative yet grounded semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story about a boy surviving 1980s Australia, surrounded by poverty, addiction, and violence, the only way an Australian can: with grit, humor, and the will to rise above.

Boy Swallows Universe is a wonderfully faithful seven-episode miniseries based on Trent Dalton’s incredible, award-winning novel of the same name. The book had already seen a critically acclaimed stage adaptation before getting the bump-bow from that streaming service. With a cast featuring some of Australia’s best alongside a couple of spectacular newcomers, the series delivers a stellar adaptation.

Dalton’s story includes some wild happenings that, honestly, shouldn’t translate that well to screen. Yet in the hands of directors Bharat Nalluri, Jocelyn Moorhouse, and Kim Mordaunt, we’re treated to one of the best novel adaptations I’ve ever seen.

Both Bryan Brown and Simon Baker give us Gary Oldman-esque performances, blending into the story in all the best ways and almost unrecognizable. Travis Fimmel (most notable to me from Vikings) is absolutely lit in his characterization, and it’s a shame the story doesn’t call for more of him. The standout is young Felix Cameron, who earned an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama and two Logies (Most Popular New Talent and Best Lead Actor in a Drama) for his work here. Only thirteen during production, he brings a complexity and calmness far beyond his years. He’s so good, in fact, that the later time jump is almost jarring. Not because Zac Burgess does a poor job, but because following Cameron’s performance is a tough act for anyone.

Some might feel the story rushes toward the end, and yes, it does button up a little too neatly. Still, it’s worth every minute of the journey. And maybe it’s worth remembering that the tidy ending is the true story, the real life that Trent Dalton survived, and the one he’s since proven himself brilliant at telling.