Nickel Boys (2024) directed by RaMell Ross, is a historical drama based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Set in 1960s Florida, it follows Elwood Curtis, an African-American teenager inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., who is unjustly sent to the Nickel Academy, a segregated reform school notorious for its abusive practices. There, he befriends Turner, and together they navigate the institution’s brutal realities.
The film intertwines past and present, depicting Elwood’s enduring trauma and the lasting impact of systemic racism. Ross employs a unique visual style, incorporating archival footage to enhance the narrative’s authenticity. Premiering at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2024, “Nickel Boys” received critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling and was nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards.
