Parents' Guide to Master Harold...and the Boys

MASTER HAROLD... AND THE BOYS is the 2010 movie based on Athol Fugard's 1982 play about the struggle of black people in South Africa. The play was originally banned for its forthright portrayal of apartheid's ugliness and inhumanity, and for today's viewers it's useful to know that the South African system of racial oppression continued until 1991. Hally (Freddie Highmore of TV's The Good Doctor) is a 17-year-old white high school student who has enjoyed a close relationship with "the boys," Sam (Ving Rhames) and Willie (Patrick Mofokeng), the black employees who clean and serve in his mother's tea room. Before blacks were banned from living in their area, Sam lived in servants' quarters near Hally's family. Sam was close with the boy, a kind of beloved babysitter. It becomes clear that Hally's hapless dad, who lost his leg falling down a gangway on his way to serving in WWI, is now a hopeless alcoholic, hospitalized, probably to dry out. Hally hangs out after school at the tea room, but on this rainy day, the place is empty and Sam and Willie are living out their ballroom-dancing competition dreams. Hally is distracted by his father's condition and his disdain and racism flair up as he contends with the prospect of Dad returning from the hospital before being completely "well" (sober). Hally speaks ill of his dad as he dreads his return. Here Sam displays his humanity and kindness. Even though the father is racist, Sam cautions Hally to temper his angry words, which angers Hally further as he recognizes that he's being lectured by a "lowly" black man. Even though that black man has always been the caring man who played the role of surrogate father, suddenly Hally strikes out, testing the power given him by the apartheid regime. He hits Willie with a ruler and threatens Sam's job, demanding Sam address him as "Master Harold," reflecting the power differential between a white "man" and a black in that country at that time. Sam counters eloquently, suggesting that Hally is misplacing anger at his father and directing it at the supportive and kindly Sam.