In Scott Hicks’s fine new film ‘The Boys Are Back’, adapted from Simon Carr’s 2000 memoirs ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’, Clive Owen plays British sports journalist Joe Warr, who moves to rural South Australia to be with his new Aussie wife, Katy Warr (Laura Fraser) only to have his life turned upside down when she dies suddenly of cancer. Joe is left to raise his five year old son, Artie (Nicholas McAnulty) alone.

This is the start of pressure that comes at him from everywhere. His first wife Flick (Natasha Little) sends his disgruntled teenage son Harry (George MacKay) over to Australia to stay with him for a while. When he tries to enlist the support of his mother-in law Barbara (Julia Blake) she only wants to look after Artie to the exclusion of care of Harry. His newspaper editor Tim Walker (Adam Morgan) has been supportive of him but now wants him to lift his job back into top gear.

‘The Boys Are Back’ is a touching, genuine, emotional film about a man determined to meet the challenges that have been thrust at him. The narrator/diary style in which the film has been made works well as Joe Warr’s journey becomes a constant source of discovery. This journey revolves around him developing his own approach to bringing up his two scarred but vibrant kids, rather than becoming sort of substitute mother to them.

Clive Owen is perfectly cast as this rugged, independent character. Owen is well supported by a strong cast that features some fine Australian talent, including Emma Booth, Emma Lung, Julia Blake and Chris Haywood.

Scott Hicks direction is, as always, subtle and assured, and there are some great shots of the rural South Australian landscape and vineyards by cinematographer Greig Fraser.