WHAT’S IT ABOUT
Elwood Curtis’ college dreams are shattered when he’s sentenced to Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory in the Jim Crow South. Clinging to his optimistic worldview, Elwood strikes up a friendship with Turner, a fellow Black teen who dispenses fundamental tips for survival.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
In this heartbreaking tale of two boys going to reform school in the 1960s, the power of friendship comes through. Young Elwood gets caught up in a misunderstanding over a stolen car and is sent to Nickel Academy. Despite its supposed function as an educational institution, it operates much like a prison, with its Black students being the greatest victims of the oppressive system. Elwood had been a model student before his confinement, having been encouraged by a teacher confident in his abilities enough to have arranged for him to take college classes. The cruel twist of fate – having been in the wrong place at the wrong time – sets him on a different path altogether. At Nickel Academy, one follows an ugly set of unwritten yet widely known rules. There are four ways for students to leave: serving their time, turning 18 and aging out, an escape, and death while at the Academy. But Elwood, somehow, remains every bit the idealist – he knows that there must be a fifth option – to change things from within. His perception, however, begins to change when Turner- another student-his best friend and admirer enters the scene. Their contrasting worldviews- the idealistic hope for justice of Elwood versus the streetwise pragmatism of Turner- forge a dynamic bond that will help them both through their daily struggles in their harsh surroundings. Several innovative technical choices make the film one time both distinct from standard period dramas. A strange square format provides intimate, carefully realized point-of-view shots, drawing the viewer directly into the emotions of the characters. These artistic choices pay big dividends: when Elwood’s grandmother enfolds him in a protective embrace, we feel the warmth and safety of her embrace; when the intimidating headmaster Spencer inspects a student, we experience the chilling effect of his scrutiny. The camera becomes our eyes into this world, making us active participants and not a mere audience. The ensemble cast gives very nuanced performances that enable them to bring depth to other characters, however little they appear on screen. Brandon Wilson excels in his role as Turner by projecting a tough exterior and showing pangs of vulnerability during the story’s quiet moments with Elwood. Hamish Linklater gives an unnerving performance as Spencer, the headmaster whose benevolence is a facade for something far more sinister. In these moments, we see some of the most tension-filled scenes, where Spencer’s very flicker of expression marked the abrupt transition from warmth to menace. In a supporting role, Fred Hechinger also graphically provides evidence for the slow passage of racism over generations, by playing a character who might not harbor overt hatred but nullifies the deviousness of casual prejudice. The narrative arc shifts back and forth through time with careful precision. We follow Elwood’s experiences within the academy while also witnessing his adult life years later when a state investigation into Nickel Academy forces him to confront long-buried trauma. This back-and-forth storytelling builds tension gradually, revealing pieces of the past while showing how they continue to impact the present. The way these timelines interweave leads to revelations that reshape everything we’ve seen, culminating in an ending that hits harder once you learn about the real life institutions that inspired the story. What makes this film unique is its approach to showing institutional abuse and racism. Instead of throwing in explicit and possibly exploitative scenes, the director proposes tension through suggestion and atmosphere. The violence at Nickel Academy is never shown – rather we live it through the characters’ palpable fear and anxiety. It’s in the footstep in the hallway, a slamming door, or a sudden silence where sounds often render much greater than any visible act of violence. This restrained approach blended with intimate camera work leads to a gut-wrenching experience, done tastefully respecting both its characters as well as its audience. While the film tackles grave subjects of injustice and systemic racism, it glimmers with heart and hope through the deep friendship between Elwood and Turner. This particular relationship is almost a stronghold in the worker-hostile realm of Nickel Academy. Their pillow talks, dreams, and protection of each other show how connection is able to keep the spirit alive even in the darkest moments. Their different views on survival – while Elwood clings on to an unwillingness to succumb to injustice and how it should be revolutionized, Turner wishes to take each day like a struggle to make it until tomorrow – sets up quite an intriguing dialogue on dignity and hope within the clutches of a system meant to rob both. Ultimately, the film raises tough questions about change, the price of survival, and the lifelong severity of trauma. It tells a powerful story through an emphasis on character development, innovative cinematography, and a thoughtful approach to confronting difficult subject matter. It feels both historically riven and tragically relevant for contemporary conversations about institutional racism and juvenile justice reform.
OUR RATING – SYSTEMIC 8