The Bay Boy (1984) User Reviews (10)

overloaded story

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 12 April 2015]

It's 1937 Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. It's a mining town at the edge of nowhere. Donald Campbell (Kiefer Sutherland)'s father (Peter Donat) had lost his soft drink factory during the Depression. His mother (Liv Ullmann) is keeping the family afloat. His brother Joe is mentally handicap. He's a Roman Catholic altar boy infatuated with Saxon Coldwell (Leah Pinsent). Joe dies. Donald witnesses Saxon's angry dad Sergeant Tom Coldwell (Alan Scarfe) kill his landlord, an elderly Jewish couple. He goes to find Chief McInnes but doesn't tell him about Coldwell. He kisses Saxon's sister Dianna while still in love with Saxon. He is haunted by the murders and in fear of Tom Coldwell. The visiting priest tries to molest him while away and spending the night in the same bed together. He becomes disillusioned with the church.

It's one of Kiefer Sutherland's early roles. He does a fine job. Writer/director Daniel Petrie has filled it with his personal experiences in this semi-autobiographical film. In fact, it's overloaded with them. There are way too many things. It should simply concentrate on the murders and the Coldwells. If it wants to do the priest route, it should limit it to that part and make this a sexual coming-of-age story. Putting them together is too much and doesn't allow each story to develop.

sins of omission

[SteveSkafte · 7/10 · 8 September 2010]

"The Bay Boy" was clearly a labor of love for writer/director Daniel Petrie. In all his long, successful directorial career ("A Raisin in the Sun", "Fort Apache the Bronx", "Resurrection"), this is his sole writing credit. The film takes place exactly where Petrie himself grew up - Glace Bay, Nova Scotia - on the island of Cape Breton. But, for all the personal identity and local talent involved, it's not nearly as good of a film as some others made on the island like "Margaret's Museum" and "New Waterford Girl". The thing that holds back the story here is Petrie's filmmaking approach. The soundtrack constantly intrudes with out-of-place music, and the acting is too often directed toward an older style approach. It's well-made, yes, just not nearly as convincing as it might have been.

For such a totally obscure film, there are a couple of recognizable faces. Liv Ullmann and Kiefer Sutherland (in his second role) are the core of the story here, an exploration of the complexities of the mother/son relationship. Another Nova Scotian actor, Peter Donat, has a less noticeable role as the father. In the end, "The Bay Boy" would have been much better served by a more realist, quiet approach. Daniel Petrie seems intent on filming his story as if it were a 1930s movie, which tends to keep everything at a distance. There's a lot of feeling put into it, a lot of talent. But it just doesn't come out quite right. I got something from it, just not nearly enough.

Great piece of work

[Tito-8 · 9/10 · 14 January 1999]

This is a thoroughly well-made Canadian movie, with an unusually high number of memorable scenes, thanks to a well-written script and solid acting from all involved. And although a coming-of-age drama with many emotional scenes, there are well-placed lighthearted moments that help to keep the movie from getting too "heavy". All-in-all, it's a real success, and is yet another example of a lesser known movie that outshines most of the box office blockbusters.

A true neglected gem

[frazierdp · 10/10 · 12 January 2012]

Lovely, lovely small-scale film with excellent performances by a talented cast. Liv Ullman, Kiefer Sutherland, Alan Scarfe and everyone else certainly did not make this for the money. Among other delights, it has one of the most authentic losing-of-virginity scenes in any film. And the voice-over of its conclusion imparts the entire story with the resonance of personal myth.

That this film is such an oddity, was so poorly distributed, and is so ignored right now is an indictment of the entire industry and the kind of films it makes -- and doesn't make. To know how to do this and still not do it -- shame on them.

A truly great film, but only once seen on Showtime

[dpallen · 12 October 2001]

This film is superb in every way.... story, writing, direction, casting.... everything! But, alas, it was seen but once.... one time only on Showtime... and then desappeared forever from the tv scene. Something about it's Canadian genesis, some say, but if ever there was a movie that would be a real blockbuster, The Bay Boy is that film. Incredibly, I happened to see the film in it's one and only showing on cable television, back in 1984 or 85. Now, it is available only on VHS but I wait in hope that it will surface again on DVD.

I repeat, this movie is a really great film....... four stars or better!!!

Capturing the Industrial Beauty of Cape Breton

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 8/10 · 3 July 2014]

I grew up in Cape Breton, my life revolved around the hazardous waste site there and still does. However there was a time when Cape Breton's industry of coal mining and steel-making wasn't considered dangerous. This film tells of a high school boy, struggling with the Great Depression, the idea of his parents sending his mentally challenged brother to a mental institution, girls and his conflicting thoughts of following his mother's wishes in becoming a priest. His dad has built a bootleg coal mine under their house in Glace Bay, allowing secret money for the family, but after the brother dies suddenly things become sad and more complicated than ever. An eccentric and badly-reputed teenage girl shows up, and one night the boy witnesses a murder, sending off a chain of dramatic events.

To a lot of people this film would be boring. However, if you grew up in or frequently visited Cape Breton, you know it's a unique place. This film captured Cape Breton's industrial look just around the time of the local steel mill's economic decline in the 80's, and it's fun to point out as you watch it, "hey, I've been there!" To parents, DON'T LET YOUR KIDS SEE THIS FILM. It is by no means a bad film but there are several adult themes and scenes such as the main character "sleeping" with his girlfriend and almost being molested by a priest.

All in all a worthwhile movie, also if you're into Cape Breton's industrial scenery, try the 1981 Sydney Mines slasher, My Bloody Valentine.

I loved The Bay Boy

[sheilahd-1 · 10/10 · 11 September 2006]

I remember when I was little & they were filming the Bay Boy in Glace Bay & it was very cool to have a movie shoot on the street where our church was. At the time though I was all - Keifer Who? The movie really is fantastic and funny and thrilling but at the time the thrill was that it was shot in our home town. They even had the premiere at the Savoy Theater in Glace Bay which for Glace Bay was a pretty big deal. Though not entirely surprising. The Writer / Director Daniel Petrie was born in Glace Bay.

The CBC had aired this movie many times over the years. So it is quite possible it will air again. Luckily I still have a copy on tape. I've seen copies in the video store (not on DVD mind you - although it very well may be on DVD by now - I am not sure).

A must see. Amazon.ca has the VHS listed.

Definite baywatch

[videorama-759-859391 · 8/10 · 14 March 2023]

Coming around to watch this, I was in no way disappointed, more pleasured and impressed. A much softer and gentler side you'll see to Sutherland and it's a wonderfully if beautiful performance, so you should make opportunity to see it. This is another sadly obscure, if undiscovered film, with great periodic sets, bar none, that you really soak up and immerse yourself in. You really feel and breath the atmosphere, some of it cold and grim. The Bay Boy has awesome performances, none more than Ullman, amazing as Sutherland's mum, but on the other side of the coin, I must give note to, is Scarfe, as the corrupt police seargeant, who guns down a priest and his wife, Sutherland, a fearful witness. There are some real and incredibly claustrophobic moments, where he is of such overbearing menace, the best work, I've seen from this guy. Sutherland happens to be friends with both of Scarfe's pretty daughters, providing a real impasse. The death of a lodger, living with Sutherland and family, played by John Flynn, I think, early in the piece, is quite memorable, and it stays with me. Sutherland also discovers, love, manhood and puberty, not in that order. Highly recommend you see this, not just for the film, but naturally talented and versatile acting discovery, Sutherland. Great soundtrack too.

R.I.P Poppa

[bubadah · 10/10 · 10 May 2020]

My Grandfather, John Wilson Sr, had a few guest appearances in this movie, i discovered this when he sadly passed away in 2018, i miss you so much. im definitely going to watch this movie again

a very grim tale, spoilers

[rockinghorse · 30 March 2004]

I saw this movie back when I felt that I should watch a movie all the way through mo matter how horrible it made me feel.

And even so I couldn't watch the whole thing.

This is serious art, which I can't stand, very educational, which I also can't stand, and very important, which I also . . .

I wonder how many well-made movies involve both female nudity and pedophilia.

This is a growing-up story involving sexual abuse by a priest -- long before the truth was generally known -- and pining after a girl who turns out to be more than willing.

Okay, not exactly a narrative review so far, right? Well, this is much the way the molvie itself runs.

It is rather like the Unbearable Lightness of Being.

Kiefer Sutherland always had greatness in him. It is a pity that between this movie and 24 he played grimy killers.

Anyway, if you want two hours (or whatever) of fun, don't watch this. If you prefer a long stretch of very real psychological torment -- and there are many who do, or there would be no Cannes Film Festival -- that will still have you thinking 20 years later and still waiting to exhale, this is one way to go.