“The past does not equal the future” a character notes in Boy A, but it seems the past doesn’t have to repeat itself for it to still wreak its proper damages. Here is a story with the potential to be many things, but first and foremost about Jack, the boy of the film’s title who chooses a name for himself in the opening scene. Warm and giddily enthusiastic about everything in his surroundings, Jack in his current state is a far cry from his previous life as Erick, charged with the co-murder of a child as a boy himself and hidden away until his release as an adult. Moving forward with the help of his handler Terry, Jack gets set up with a job, a home and a new life, an attempt to wipe the slate clean on a early, troubled start in what is portrayed as a less than perfect environment for a child. However, as Jack’s confidence grows and he takes one trembling step after another into the light of day, the old ghosts are never far behind and redemption has a steeper price to be paid than he might have imagined.
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