#SheReviews Bosch & Rockit

August 15, 2022

Bosch & Rockit took me back to the fun and freedom days when mobile phones and social media didn’t rule and as I sat glued to the screen, I wished more young people of today could go back too, in real life. 

The Bosch & Rockit movie is Australian through and through.  Based on an unforgettable true story about love, forgiveness and the powerful bond between a father and son. It was a reminiscence of the eighties and nineties, where the internet was connected via our telephone line including the frustrations when the line was busy, kids’ lives were not centred around mobile phones, and parents were annoyingly irresponsible, unfortunately, addicted to either drugs or alcohol. 

For many young teenagers back then, when things got tough their means of escape was by tucking their short-board under their arms and cycling their way to find the best wave. 

The scenery was spectacular as you can imagine, filming was centred around our iconic Byron Bay. It captured a canvas of Australia’s famous east coast surf beaches and rain forests. The surfing was real, by real actors. Insightful scenes took us for a ride on the waves; even better, it proved that actors can surf or should I say surfers can act. 

Bosch & Rockit is a raw, unapologetic, heartfelt story told through the eyes of the main protagonist, Rockit, an innocent 13-year-old boy, superbly portrayed by fledging actor Rasmus King, he nailed it! 

During our Q&A session at the end of the preview, writer, director, and producer Tyler Atkins told us much of the story was based on his own true life experience. He wanted the audience to see life as it was from a young boy’s perspective. The struggles he had personally faced as he journeyed through boyhood through to manhood with parents whose main focus was themselves.

Filming took place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, being one of the first productions to successfully shoot through the worldwide pandemic.

The Story

Young father Bosch (Luke Hemsworth) has a run-in with the law, and with his son Rockit (Rasmus King), they suddenly take on a magical holiday, a father-son surfing safari. 

Taken out of school, wondering why his mother is not coming home, learning the raw truth about his separated parents, and his living arrangements constantly changing, Rockit struggles to come to terms with his unbelievable circumstances as the story unfolds. 

He learns to grow up fast, at times becoming a carer for both parents as he witnesses their addictions and bad habits. At times I felt sad for Rockit and wanted to shake both parents for being selfish and to take care of their son. They were unconscious of the devastation they were having on their son, dealing with their own issues. 

Yet the bond between parent and child remains strong, particularly the father-son bond where the deeper theme of relationships and forgiveness is powerful. It is a story that gives us hope, that we can find our way through, no matter what the circumstances. 

Award-winning Tyler Atkins explores forgiveness, human connection, self-understanding, the depths of struggle and the powerfully life-affirming effect of love. He said, I set out to design a feature film that quenches the thirst for meaningful cinema and illuminates the desperate need in humanity to re-examine and understand love. He achieved his objective to tell the story through Rockit’s eyes because I believe this perspective adds power to a story that explores the concept of parenting versus the reality of being a kid in today’s society. My aim is to uplift, motivate and inspire audiences to forgive ourselves and others. 

Cast

Luke Hemsworth (Bosch father to Rockit)

Rasmus King (Rockit)

Isabel Lucas (Deb, Bosch’s love interest)

Savannah La Rain (Ash Ash best friend of Rockit

Leeanna Walsman (Rockit’s mother Elizabeth)

Heather Mitchell (Wendy)

Marty Sacks (police officer Derek)

Michael Sheasby (police officer Keith).

Crew

Director, Writer, Producer: Tyler Atkins 

Executive Producers: Jamie Arscott, Vicki Scotts, Luke Hemsworth, Andrew Mann, Nick Cole

Producers: John Schwarz, Andrew Mann, Jamie Arscott, Tyler Atkins

Cinematographer: Ben Nott ACS, 

Gaffer: Matt Slattery 

Sound Engineer: Scott Mulready 

Line Producer: Cathy Flanner, Co-Producer: Shana Levine

 

Released in Cinemas 18 August 2022

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