The striking debut feature from Oscar Boyson, Our Hero, Balthazar is a razor-sharp dark comedy-drama that takes a provocative look at internet culture, performative activism, and modern male isolation.
The film stars Jaeden Martell (Knives Out) as Balthazar “Balthy” Malone, an ultra-privileged Manhattan high school senior who attempts to win over his activist crush by posting emotional, anti-gun-violence videos online. When his videos trigger the mockery of an online troll named Solomon (Asa Butterfield, Ender’s Game), a lonely, unstable teenager living in a Texas trailer park, Balthy becomes convinced that the boy is planning a mass casualty event.
Driven by a desire to be a real-world saviour, Balthazar tracks Solomon down to confront him. What follows is a volatile, surprisingly tender exploration of an unconventional friendship born from digital alienation, as both boys navigate a world that has completely warped how a generation communicates.