The New Boy
In 1940s Australia, a young Aboriginal boy unexpectedly arrives at a secluded monastery one night. Run by a defiant nun, the monastery's peaceful existence is disrupted by the boy's arrival, leading to a story exploring spiritual conflict and the challenges of survival.
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The New Boy (2025) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Read the complete plot breakdown of The New Boy (2025), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In the heart of the Australian outback during the 1940s, a nameless nine-year-old orphan boy, who is of Aboriginal descent but has some fair hair, becomes embroiled in a dramatic turn of events when he strangles a white horseman. His actions quickly draw the attention of another horseman, who retaliates by felling the boy with a boomerang. This leads to the boy being taken in by a remote monastery, which serves as a refuge for Aboriginal boys. Curiously, the monastery is presided over by a male priest, who is, unbeknownst to the boys, long deceased; in fact, it’s been a year since he passed away. The head nun, Sister Eileen, cleverly maintains the façade of the priest’s existence, even going so far as to forge letters to convince outsiders of his continued presence.
Supporting her in this deception are two figures: a fellow nun affectionately known as Sister Mum and an Aboriginal man named George. Despite their good intentions, the nuns fail to impart any knowledge of Aboriginal culture, values, or language to the boys, leaving them ill-equipped for the realities of the world outside the monastery. Their future is largely dictated by the necessity to leave at a young age to work as farmhands, a fate that weighs heavily on their spirits. It’s suggested that Sister Mum’s conversion to Christianity stemmed from the deep pain of losing her two children, while George finds solace in the stability offered by the monastery life.
The orphan boy, often referred to as the New Boy, initially faces enormous challenges in adapting to his new environment. He struggles to communicate, lacking any proficiency in English, and shows little inclination towards adopting Western customs, such as clothing or shoes. After enduring a period of bullying from his peers, the New Boy begins to assert himself both physically and emotionally, ultimately finding acceptance among the other boys. Throughout his journey, the New Boy demonstrates remarkable supernatural abilities, enabling him to conjure small orbs of light and even heal sick animals and humans around him.
This fragile equilibrium is disrupted with the arrival of a large crucifix statue of Jesus for the monastery’s church. The New Boy finds himself inexplicably drawn to this statue, envisioning it alive, which ignites both fascination and fear among those around him. He begins offering live snakes to the statue, a practice met with horror by the other boys. Compounding his mystique, he starts experiencing stigmata in his hands, further blurring the lines of his supernatural gifts.
One pivotal moment occurs when the New Boy revives a dead snake, inadvertently causing a lightning strike that ignites a fire in the fields. This situation forces George and the boys into action to extinguish the flames. During this chaotic time, the New Boy, in front of the statue, pierces his hands to mimic the crucified Jesus, an act that initially shocks Sister Eileen. However, she interprets this as a sign of his acceptance of Christianity. When George and the other boys return to the monastery, they find that the eldest boy, Michael, has suffered injuries while battling the fire. The New Boy uses his powers to heal Michael, an event that leaves George and Eileen in awe.
As the New Boy’s strange and unorthodox attachment to Jesus continues to unsettle the adults and challenges the traditions they’ve cultivated, he occasionally reverts to his original, more playful state. In one instance, he secretly removes the statue to “play” with it, attempting to mend its crucifixion wounds and dress it up, until it’s discovered by Sister Eileen and put back in its designated place by George. Concerned that the New Boy has yet to fully relinquish his Indigenous ways, George makes the difficult decision to separate him from the other boys.
After grappling with her own beliefs, Sister Eileen comes to see the New Boy as a messenger from Christ, leading her to baptise him in an attempt to cleanse him of what she perceives as “sins.” Despite his limited comprehension of Christianity, the New Boy graciously accepts the baptism, but soon realizes it comes at a cost: he loses his previously held supernatural abilities. Embracing his new life, he begins to adopt Western clothing and footwear.
As the significant day, marked as V-day, approaches, the New Boy tentatively embarks on this new journey, experiencing a tentative sense of belonging from his peers. Yet, the resolution of his story leaves him at a crossroads, caught between two vastly different worlds and facing an uncertain future.
Last Updated: May 21, 2025 at 07:31
Ending Explained – What Happens at the End of The New Boy?
Still wondering what the ending of The New Boy (2025) really means? Here’s a spoiler-heavy breakdown of the final scene, major twists, and the deeper themes that shape the film’s conclusion.
The ending of The New Boy leaves viewers with a sense of ambiguity and reflection on the complex intersection of Indigenous spirituality and Christianity. Throughout the film, the young Aboriginal boy demonstrates extraordinary powers—he can light fires with his fingers, heal wounds, and even carry a sacred glow within himself that seems connected to his roots and heritage. These mystical gifts set him apart from the other children and challenge the strict religious environment of the orphanage, especially Sister Eileen, who is torn between her religious duties and the awe-inspiring reality of the boy’s supernatural abilities.
As the story progresses, Sister Eileen seeks to convert the boy through baptism, attempting to erase his spiritual essence in the name of Christianity. During the baptism, as the boy’s hair is washed with holy water, he begins to lose his light—his power diminishes, and he appears to become just another child within the colonized system. Despite this, the boy secretly keeps a snake in his pocket, hinting that part of his true identity and connection to his heritage still remains beneath the surface. He looks on at the figurine of Mother Mary, which has fallen still, symbolizing how his own spirit has been subdued and silenced in the effort to assimilate him. The film suggests that the boy’s story has been somewhat rewritten to fit into the colonizer’s narrative—his original power has been suppressed, but a trace of his inner strength lingers.
Ultimately, the ending leaves it open whether the boy’s true essence has been fully eradicated or if remnants of his ancestral spirit will survive beyond the imposed colonization. The visual of him hiding the snake in his pocket signifies that his connection to nature and his identity isn’t entirely lost, and perhaps, in some quiet way, these native aspects might endure. Meanwhile, Sister Mums’ own story of loss hints at the wider toll of colonization on indigenous lives and families. Warwick Thornton’s film captures this tension beautifully, illustrating that despite attempts to enforce cultural dominance, Indigenous spirits and histories persist beneath the surface, waiting to be acknowledged or awakened again. The open-ended conclusion invites viewers to consider whether true acceptance and understanding might someday bridge the divide between these worlds or if history will continue to shape the ongoing struggle for recognition.
Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:04
Unlock the Full Story of The New Boy
Don't stop at just watching — explore The New Boy in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The New Boy is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
The New Boy Timeline
Track the full timeline of The New Boy with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Characters, Settings & Themes in The New Boy
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The New Boy. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
