Clive Owen gets in touch with his sensitive side in the heartbreaking drama, The Boys Are Back.

A semi-biographical film, based on the true life experiences of journalist Simon Carr, and adapted by Shine director Scott Hicks, The Boys Are Back stars Owen as Joe Warr, an ex-pat workaholic sports writer who is thrust into the role of single parent after his wife (Laura Fraser) dies from cancer.

His brood consists of two sons: cute little “sweetheart” Artie, played well by young Nicholas McAnulty; and UK based teenager Henry (George McCay) a product from Joe’s first marriage, who agrees to stay with his father in Australia.

The majority of the film deals with Joe’s attempt to reconnect with both of his boys, whom he has inadvertently neglected over the years, and try to maintain some semblance of a family.

As he struggles with the role of single parent, Joe utilises a loose form of parenting which consists of a few rules, lots of fun, and hardly any responsibility.

It is an approach which will rub many the wrong way and understandably so: Having his young son ride on the bonnet of his car Death Proof style, as a form of father/son playtime, does not make for good parenting.

Yet, in this age of helicopter parenting, it also feels refreshing to view children be children, and watch them learn from the mistakes, rather than be wrapped in a cocoon of over protection.

In one of his best performances thus far, Owen taps into a reservoir of repressed emotions his on screen personas rarely express.

A pivotal scene in which he attempts to explain the concept of death to young Artie, is one of the most moving of the year thanks to the stellar actors of both players, with his young co-stars, too, putting on fine performances.

This is Scott Hicks first Australian release since he broke through with Shine back in 1996, and it is his best work since that Oscar winner. Hopefully, Hicks will remain in Australia and continue to release product as strong as this.