Film Review: Sleek Spanish Neo-Noir ‘Boi’ Thrills With Its Intriguing Mystery

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Boi is a young man starting out in a new job as a chauffeur. While anxiously waiting for news from his girlfriend regarding a decision that could change both their lives, he must accompany his first clients, Michael and Gordon, two Asian businessmen who have come to Barcelona in order to close a multimillion-dollar deal.

Director: Jorge M Fontana

Cast: Bernat Quintana, Adrian Pang, Andrew Lua, Man Mourentan

Year: 2019

Country: Spain

Language: Spanish, English, Mandarin

Runtime: 110 minutes

This year’s Spanish Film Festival kicks off with a tantalising treat: two well-known and accomplished local actors starring in a Spanish film? That’s unheard of! While the casting of Adrian Pang and Andrew Lua in Boi is sure to turn heads here in Singapore, the film is far more than just a novel clash of two distant worlds.

The sleek Spanish thriller oozes with style, with its masterful use of light and snazzy cinematography all shot on chic 35mm film. A light dose of surrealism occasionally slips into the film’s atmosphere as its titular character’s mind helplessly wanders between fact and fiction. Much of Boi’s philosophical discussion would be lost in this same fog but never was the film too lost in its stylings that enjoyability was sacrificed. Boi remains an entertaining neo-noir, where its relentless build-up of suspense is bound to keep audiences mystified, intrigued and savouring for answers.

The film begins with its peculiarly-named lead, Boi (Bernat Quintana), on his first day at the job as a chauffeur, tasked with driving two shady businessmen Gordon (Adrian Pang) and Michael (Andrew Lua) around Barcelona. Things start mundane enough for Boi, with Michael’s brazen rudeness towards him being the only red flag. Yet, their drive around the city soon grows disquieting, eventually embroiling Boi in his clients’ desperate search for another mysterious figure who may be the key to their survival.

In between the search is Boi’s obsession with his missing girlfriend Anna, his struggles with his impending fatherhood, and his dejection from yet another rejection letter about the publishing of his novel. How these two narrative threads relate and weave together is mainly through the film’s quirks.

It quickly becomes clear that Boi’s mind isn’t where it’s supposed to be. Nothing overtly intrusive or fantastical ever crops up but there are still bizarre moments, such as Boi confiding in a personification of his inner psyche, that will leave the audience unsure what exactly is happening.

The escapades of larger-than-life characters Gordon and Michael only add to the surrealism – perhaps even more unintentionally so for a local audience. The first thing they might notice is that Michael, in particular, is unabashedly Singaporean, peppering in colloquialisms with an unmistakable local tone coupled with his brash attitude. Gordon is much more muted in this aspect, although remaining equally pompous with his condescension towards both his colleague and Boi.

Even by the end of the film, it remains unclear why they flew halfway across the globe in search for the enigmatic Simon Albatross. Yet, it is undeniable that the central mystery, mainly carried by Gordon and Michael, remain devilishly intriguing, especially when most of what unfolds happens off-screen. The chemistry between the trio is equally entertaining, with Boi humorously navigating through the pair’s increasingly unreasonable demands while being sandwiched by their wildly contrasting personalities.

What remains constant between the pair is their shadowy intent – although not one that ever felt malicious. It’s a fine line brought forth captivatingly well by Pang and Lua’s performance, holding onto an air of secrecy even by the film’s end. Quintana does a solid job in the lead as well, remaining charming throughout despite the film never diverging from Boi’s point of view. Similarly, he succeeds in translating his character’s inner struggles, although the emotional depth is somewhat limited by the script.

The film never relents in its buildup, stacking on twists and turns up until its final reel. While all these do lead up to a visually thrilling sequence, its conclusion may leave far more questions than answers. The film’s final moments felt like a frantic search for meaning; while there were allusions to its parting message throughout, its impact is somewhat muffled by the lack of a coherent focus.

Boi’s priority seemingly lies with its stylings. From the swanky suits of the trio to the film’s frequent use of alluring lighting and shadows, Boi’s emphasis on flair throughout is visually stunning at times. This definitely spills over sonically, with a fantastic soundtrack consisting of Spanish classics and menacing synthesisers. The almost two-hour-long film does occasionally get too involved in this focus on style, leading to unnecessary sequences to clog its pace.

While Boi’s conclusion does not come off as profound as it aims to be, the film is more than capable of satisfying audiences through its journey – sans a few minor speed bumps. The film’s visuals, together with the intriguing performances of its core cast and relentless build-up of its central mystery, all make for an exciting neo-noir.

Boi is the opening film of the Spanish Film Festival 2020, starting off tomorrow 5 November at 7pm. The event will be attended by Adrian Pang and Andrew Lua, where they will share their experience working on the film in Barcelona. Following that, the film will see its second screening on 14 November. Details of both screenings and the purchase of tickets can be found here.

In the meantime, check out the film’s trailer below:

BOI trailer from Filmax on Vimeo.

About Spanish Film Festival 2020

Running from 5 to 15 November, the Spanish Film Festival will be showcasing a curated selection of Spanish cinema’s very best from 2019. The Spanish Film Festival 2020 is made possible by the partnership of the Embassy of Spain and Filmgarde Bugis+, where all films will be shown. For more details on the programme, visit Filmgarde Cineplexes’s website.

Sinema.SG

Film Review: Sleek Spanish Neo-Noir ‘Boi’ Thrills With Its Intriguing Mystery6 min read

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Film Review: Sleek Spanish Neo-Noir ‘Boi’ Thrills With Its Intriguing Mystery6 min read