The highly anticipated film Nickel Boys, based on Colson Whitehead’s acclaimed novel, is set to make waves in theaters this October. Featuring a powerful cast including Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, the film tells the harrowing story of two Black boys navigating the brutal realities of a reform school in the Jim Crow South.The film follows the journey of Elwood Curtis, whose dreams of attending college are shattered when he is wrongfully sentenced to Nickel Academy, a notorious reformatory. The official synopsis describes Elwood’s experience:
“Bearing the brunt of an innocent misstep, he’s sentenced to the netherworld of Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory sunk deep in the Jim Crow South. He encounters another ward, the seen-it-all Turner. The two Black teens strike up an alliance: Turner dispensing fundamental tips for survival, Elwood, clinging to his optimistic worldview.”
Set against the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement backdrop, the film explores themes of friendship, resilience, and the struggle to maintain one’s humanity in the face of systemic oppression.
Alongside Herisse and Wilson, Nickel Boys features a talented ensemble cast, including Daveed Diggs, Hamish Linklater, and Fred Hechinger.
The film is directed by RaMell Ross, who co-adapted the screenplay with Joslyn Barnes, ensuring that the poignant narrative resonates with audiences today.
Nickel Boys recently premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and is set to screen at the New York Film Festival. The film will officially hit theaters on Oct. 25.
