Based on the book of the same name by Trent Dalton, Boy Swallows Universe follows a boy growing up in 1980s Australia under far-from-ideal circumstances. While the young Eli Bell (Felix Cameron) has a disarming and open outlook on life, his life is far from perfect. For example, his father Robert (Simon Baker, The Mentalist) is an alcoholic who no longer has contact with his children, his mother Frances (Phoebe Tonkin, The Originals) is a drug addict, his stepfather Lyle (Travis Fimmel, Vikings) is a drug dealer and talks his brother Gus (Lee Halley) no longer and only communicates by writing in the air.
Furthermore, family friend Slim Halliday (Bryan Brown, Darby & Joan) is a criminal who has served his sentence and Eli corresponds frequently with convicted criminal Alex Bermuda (Adam Briggs) who is in prison. So we can say it was a far from usual childhood. In addition, the image of a flying car that can be used to travel in space appears regularly and there is a hidden red telephone in a tunnel under Eli's house that both Eli and Gus have no idea who is calling on. calls.
Almost sounds like science fiction, right? But Boy Swallows Universe is far from that. The series is much more of a coming-of-age drama series. As mentioned, Eli does not grow up under ideal circumstances, but still tries to make the best of it. He still thinks his mother is the sweetest person in the world, accepts his brother for who he is and also gets along well with his stepfather. The world is good as it is and his biggest problems are that he wants to make life better for others and that he is bullied at school.
However, when his stepfather tries to move up, everything goes wrong. Eli is injured, his stepfather disappears and his mother goes to prison. As a result, he and Gus end up with their father, who is far from able to care for them. The boys will therefore have to survive themselves. And as they grow up in this way, they also learn more and more about their past.
Boy Swallows Universe is a drama series that impressively portrays Australia in the 1980s.
When we see Eli again as an older boy (Zac Burgess, One Night), his home situation is a bit more stable because his father has done his best to be there more for the children, but Eli himself struggles. On the one hand, he dreams of becoming a journalist, but on the other hand, his stepfather's criminal past constantly comes into play, pulling him towards the criminal circuit. And the question is to what extent he can resist that call when the safety of his family is at stake.
Boy Swallows Universe is a drama series that impressively portrays Australia in the 1980s. And although there are several emotional moments in the series and you especially sympathize with young Eli, how Eli approaches life and the subtle humor incorporated into the series ensure that it is still kept somewhat light-hearted. I have not read the book itself, but I understand that this is grimmer and I can well imagine that given the story.
The flying car, the red telephone and even the fact that Gus communicates by writing in the air (and the way that is depicted) give the series a bit of a magical feeling at times. That also keeps things a bit lighter in a good way.
The fact that everything comes together so well is certainly due to the excellent performances of the actors. The more familiar faces of Fimmel and Baker play their roles so well that I almost forget where I know them from. Felix Cameron plays excellently in his role of the boy who, despite everything, is open to the world because his life is what it is.
