Son of Rambow is a good movie. I think it is important to start out with that statement because the movie is not as simplistic as it might sound. The story revolves around two british boys growing up in the 1980s. One, Lee, is living in an environment with no boundaries, no rules, being raised by his older brother who clearly resents the task while mom is enjoying life in Spain with her boyfriend. As a result older brother tends to take his anger out on Lee despite the fact that Lee clearly idolizes him. In return Lee manages to ensnare a younger boy, William, in school to become his own servant. Someone whom he can take out his anger and frustration of a life adrift without an authority figure who loves him.

 

The boys meet in the hall of the school because Lee has been kicked out of gym class while the William is not allowed to watch a television documentary in class because his family is Plymouth Brethren. In the hall Lee bullies William, taking his sketch book away and causing a fishtank to fall to the floor shattering. With both boys in trouble Lee convinces William to become the stuntman in a movie he’s making to enter into a youth movie competition. Despite the fact that the initial relationship is based upon the abuse by worldly Lee of innocent William something happens that transforms them both. Friendship. William’s father has died recently and he lives in a stark, somewhat repressive, legalistic environment where judgement far outweighs grace. It is an enviroment that contradicts the great commission of Christ to "go into all the world and make disciples" because this Brethren lifestyle modelled in the film is not capable of doing this. It is William’s stark existance and need for a father figure that drives him to Lee who initially sees William as someone he can take his own anger out on. William’s acceptance of Lee and willingness to accept even the abuse and the lies, are what transform Lee from an angry loner bully into someone who genuinely accepts and needs others.

 

William does not come through this unscathed however. While he gains a friend he loses a great deal of innocence by being exposed to Lee because he was never prepared to deal with what the world can be like. William lies to his mother, steals because he see Lee steal and eventually runs away from home for a day to help complete the project he and Lee have begun.

 

The film juxtaposes two extremes – extreme isolation and abandonment on the one hand against extreme religious isolationism and legalism on the other. Both are wrong and lead to damage in people. Happily the movie ends by bringing the two extremes together in the middle. It is an ending that manages to show the beauty of both faith and the world.

 

The movie contains some mildly offensive language, a few Sh_t’s and a few uses of the Lord’s name in vain. While within the context of the story the language fits it is unfortunate the writer couldn’t resist. Without the language the film becomes accessible even to pre-teens. With the language it would best be viewed by Jr. High students and older unless accompanied by an adult.

 

I highly recommend the movie with the caution regarding language.