A vibrant, endearing and upbeat coming-of-age film, BOONG, written and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, is about a young schoolboy who, along with the help of a friend, aims to reunite his divided family.

Adventurous and mischievous schoolboy Boong and his friend Raju don’t see long distances and state borders as significant obstacles. At least not when it comes to giving Boong’s mother the best surprise gift ever: bringing back Boong’s father.

In her debut feature, Devi expertly centers themes of enduring friendship within a narrative in which ethnoracial discord and political unrest are ever present in Manipur, India. To find answers, Devi designs moments within the fabric of this intimate tale that lay clear many prejudices and divisions, giving the viewer insight into Manipur’s complex sociopolitical structure.

With memorable performances and a heartfelt narrative, this film about a child’s sincere quest is filled with excitement and tempered by the complex realities of political and social divisions. Since the film’s production, the ethnic tensions referenced have erupted into violence, making Devi’s portrayal of childhood resilience a poignant and necessary reminder of our taken-for-granted ability to find hope even in the darkest times.