‘Nickel Boys’ Revolutionizes Film with First-Person Storytelling

RaMell Ross adapts Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer-winning novel into a visually groundbreaking drama exploring history, trauma, and empathy.

Nickel Boys, directed by RaMell Ross, employs a rare first-person perspective to immerse viewers in the experiences of its two protagonists, Elwood and Turner.
The film, based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, depicts life at a fictionalized reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida inspired by the historic Dozier School.
Critics have praised the film’s innovative use of ‘sentient perspective,’ which creates a deeply personal connection to the characters’ consciousness and experiences.
Ross’s approach challenges traditional cinematic conventions, seeking to reframe how stories of Black history and trauma are visually represented on screen.
The movie opens in limited release on December 13, 2024, with a wide release planned for January 3, 2025.