With an exceptional performance from a young Troye Sivan, alongside a sublime ensemble cast, Spud is a pure delight. Yet despite the expertly timed comedy and endless heartfelt emotion, Spud never garnered much attention here in the UK due to the lack of a theatrical release.
Donovan Marsh’s adaptation of John van de Ruit’s best-selling coming-of-age comedy, Spud, could be described as a South African Adrian Mole. But there’s so much more to this film than the painful and awkward trials and tribulations of puberty. Marsh’s film is about discovery, identity, self-worth and, above all, friendship. Young John Milton (Troye Sivan) is underdeveloped for his age and has yet to find a solitary hair under his arms, let alone anywhere else! However, to make things worse, he is a working-class boy from a loving but dysfunctional family, about to attend a middle-class boarding school.
As his dad drops him off at the gates, Milton knows his size could be his undoing. As he joins the raucous dorm, it’s not long before he is christened ‘Spud.’ But at least he isn’t the only different kid; Gecko (Jamie Royal) doesn’t fit either, and the two quickly become friends. Then there’s his English teacher, the unpredictable, unconventional, but fascinating Mr Edly (John Cleese), also known as The Guv. As South Africa changes, new friendships and relationships emerge, and as an alcoholic teacher becomes a mentor, Milton slowly but surely finds the confidence he never thought he possessed.
With an exceptional performance from a young Troye Sivan, alongside a sublime ensemble cast, Spud is a pure delight. Yet despite the expertly timed comedy and endless heartfelt emotion, Spud never garnered much attention here in the UK due to the lack of a theatrical release. While Universal Pictures acquired the UK and Ireland distribution rights, Spud would quietly arrive on DVD and digital in September 2012, becoming another casualty of a crowded home release market.
Of course, young Troye Sivan would go on to have a glittering music career. Still, Spud is a reminder that long before Blue Neighbourhood, Bloom and YouTube, Sivan also had a promising acting career, both on stage and in several big movies.
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