‘Boyhood’ then is a true gem, and a bold, brave experiment that’s as intimate as it is expansive. It’s an emotionally affecting film with a big beating heart, and Linklater shows us that indeed life is in the little details. Don’t miss it.

Go, get to know Boyhood. Soak it in and let it enrich you, amuse you, hold you close. Let it open your mind a little bit more toward the possibilities great cinema holds. Live it. Let this film be your jam.

To paraphrase John Lennon, life is what happens when you’re busy watching other films.

We have already seen Linklater’s love for letting his characters drive the story rather than the other way around. However, in Boyhood — beginning with the first shot of Mason (Coltrane) lying on the grass, his arm stretched at an odd angle behind him, looking up at the sky — the biggest presence is the absence of a “driving force”, quite like in real life. It’s because life happens when you are busy doing other things…

Boyhood is long; it dawdles and somehow ends up fine and independent.

In spite of being presented in an unhurried, episodic manner, you will not find this over two-hour long docu-style indie film sluggish, for it showcases the minutiae of everyday life beautifully. No wonder Linklater said, “You’ve never seen a movie exactly like this, and you may not again. It is a life project.”

I do not know what alchemy Linklater performed to pull off such a project, but he somehow did it. And for a film buff, it’s a reason to rejoice. It’s a reason to rediscover your love for cinema. It’s a reason to take everyone you know to the nearest theatre and return home with some seriously fond memories.

Boyhood is a beautiful film that explores both the simplicity and the complexity of life. No matter who you are or what you’ve been through, you will be able to relate to some aspects of Boyhood. Watch it if you’re looking to enjoy a coming-of-age film that explores the beauty of life.