Set in South Africa around the moment of Nelson Mandela’s release, the film follows 14-year-old John Milton [Troye Sivan] as he begins his first year at Michaelhouse, a prestigious boarding school for boys. Fresh and unsure of where he fits, he quickly earns the nickname “Spud” from his peers because puberty hasn’t yet arrived, and he finds himself among eight boys in his dorm who become a tight group, known as the Crazy Eight. The social mix is tough, and Spud’s attempts to belong are tested by a school culture that prizes status, loyalty, and bravado.
His path toward belonging starts with an unlikely alliance. He befriends John Cleese as Mr. Edly, the English teacher whose warmth and wit stand out in a place where discipline often dominates. Edly—nicknamed “The Guv”—becomes a steadying presence for Spud, lending him novels to read and inviting him to lunch, offering a lifeline in a world where home life feels unstable. Yet Edly carries his own burden, with a troubled marriage and struggles with alcohol, adding a quiet, human complexity to his role as mentor.
Back home for holidays, Spud encounters Debbie, the daughter of a family friend, and his feelings quickly deepen. Debbie—played by Genna Blair—becomes the first person outside the school who truly stirs his heart, and he bestows on her the nickname “The Mermaid.” The contrast between his sheltered school world and the more open, messy emotions of adolescence is vividly drawn as Spud navigates the pull between duty, desire, and friendship.
When the new term begins, Spud spots a flyer for the school play, Oliver Twist, and he decides to audition, earnestly hoping to prove himself. He lands the lead role of Oliver, a moment that marks a turning point in his confidence and how others see him. During rehearsals, he meets Amanda, a girl at a nearby school, St. Catherine’s, and he is immediately drawn to her. But Amanda already has a boyfriend, which complicates Spud’s feelings and makes him question whether pursuing her would betray Debbie. He turns to his roommate, Jamie Royal, who plays Gecko, for advice. Gecko—a loyal, sometimes blunt friend—tells Spud to pretend to be in love with another girl, Christine, to spark jealousy in Amanda, a tactic that tests the boundaries of honesty and loyalty. Christine is portrayed by Alex McGregor, and the advice sets off a chain of events that deepens the boys’ camaraderie and the emotional stakes of the year.
Spud and Gecko grow closer, sharing small adventures and the ritual of visiting a rock at the top of a hill near the school, a place that becomes their sanctuary and a symbol of the choices they face. The mood darkens when Gecko is diagnosed with cerebral malaria contracted during a holiday trip to Mozambique. His illness progresses quickly, and he passes away soon after, a devastating blow that reverberates through the entire school. Spud mourns deeply, and the entire community gathers for Gecko’s funeral in the school chapel, a moment that underscores the fragility of life and the strength of friendship.
As the term continues, Spud channels his grief into his acting. He performs in the Oliver Twist production, earning a standing ovation that signals his growing acceptance among his peers. After the curtain, Amanda pulls him aside and asks him to kiss her, a moment that intensifies the tension between desire and fidelity. Spud makes a deliberate choice: he resists the impulse to be unfaithful to Debbie and instead offers to give Debbie a tour of the school. Later, in the middle of the quadrangle, the two share a kiss that is witnessed by his dorm-mates, adding to the chorus of reactions that will shape his standing within the Crazy Eight. The act of choosing honesty over romance reshapes how others perceive him, and Spud begins to feel truly accepted.
Returning to the dorm, he is met with a mix of praise and newfound respect. The year closes with Spud realizing that he has finally found his place among his peers, his bond with Gecko forever shaping his outlook. On the final day, he sits on the same rock he and Gecko frequented, overlooking the school, and reflects on the nature of fate and choice with a quiet, piercing line:
> God gives us choices. But sometimes, God gives us no choice. He deals us the cards, and we play them.
