Boundary Waters,” directed by Tessa Blake and written and directed by Blake (in collaboration with Jennifer Manocherian), is a coming-of-age drama set in the Iron Range of Minnesota. The film contained outstanding cinematography of the geographic area. Carlo Rinaldi was the cinematographer, but nature shots from a museum in Ely, Minnesota, were donated to the production by the Museum and  added immeasurably to the film. The music was composed by Valentin Hadjdaj.

PLOT

Young Michael is coming of age in northern Minnesota. He is learning that there is a right way and a wrong way to become a good man in society. What we at first think is a story about domestic abuse turns out to be a story about a rapist on the loose—although it is told from the point-of-view of the young son of a victim. Says the log line: “Suspenseful, tender and rapturous, Boundary Waters is a lyrical coming of age drama that immerses in its young characters as they navigate a very adult world. Set in the Iron Range of northern Minnesota, Michael Murray relishes in the carefree joys of early adolescence – girls and friends – until his mom has a black eye and a busted lip, but won’t talk about it. Michael is desperate to know what happened, but his father Brian avoids him, Granny shushes him, and his usually resilient mother can’t get out of bed. While his family weighs the cost of keeping secrets against the price of telling the truth, Michael is determined to unravel the mystery of his hurt mother and his evasive father.”

CAST

At the age of twelve, young Michael (Etienne Kellici)is just navigating how to relate to the opposite sex. He has a close teen-aged Black female friend Alice (Kennedi Butler)and a couple of male buddies, including Ralph (who reminded of Pottsie on “Happy Days”). Allison Miller is Rosemary, Michael’s mom. Miller played Maggie Bloom on the TV series “A Million Little Things” from 2018 to 2023 (87 episodes). The mother/son duo—both extremely attractive people—looked alike, especially their mesmerizing eyes. Michael’s father Brian was portrayed by Bill Heck. Heck is known for his role as a younger version of Jeff Bridges in “The Old Man” and for his role as Billy Knapp in the Coen Brothers 2018 film “The Ballad of Lester Scruggs.” Playing Granny was Carol Kane of “Taxi.”

ETIENNE KELLICI

Etienne Kellici in “Boundary Waters” at the 56th Nashville Film Festival.

Etienne Kellici started acting at the young age of 6. A rising star, he has already had the opportunity to work with Adam Brody in “Ready or Not,” Viggo Mortenson in his directorial debut “Falling” (Sundance, 2020); “Book of Blood” for Hulu;  another Tessa Blake-directed upcoming film, “Athens”; and in Kevin Costner’s “Horizon.” Kellici will appear in “You Gotta’ Believe” with Greg Kinnear and Luke Wilson for director Ty Roberts.

In the television world, Etienne had a recurring role on Canada’s longest running show “Murdoch Mysteries” for CBC; can be seen in a recurring role on the second season of “Departure” for Shaftesbury Films; and was in “October Faction” (Netflix) and the CBS series “The Republic of Sarah.” He recently completed  two-episodes on the period political thriller “Fellow Travelers.” Etienne can also be heard as the animated voice of Charlie Brown in “The Snoopy Show” and two “Snoopy Presents” television specials. Young Etienne seems like he has a very bright future in film. I couldn’t help but wonder how tall he is now, at age 15, since the IMDB listing (which may well have been outdated) said 5′ 4.”

THE BAD: SPOILER ALERT

Producer of “Boundary Waters” Erin Mae Miller in Nashville during the Q&A on September 21, 2025.

With that dynamite experienced  cast and gorgeous cinematography, this is a great debut feature film.  I  have a few thoughts about the plot that might give too much away if you are planning on taking it in when it is retitled (probably “If I Tell”, in a partnership with RAINN, Rape Abuse Incest National Network).  [Producer Erin Mae Miller, who appeared at a Q&A after the film, shared the news of the probable re-titling and partnership with RAINN for  the movie.]

  1.  When, exactly, is the film set? What year? Is Spin-the-Bottle even a thing in 2025? What about cell phones and social media, whether TikTok or Instagram? This may be my error, but I taught twelve and thirteen-year-old students for 18 years. I’m not sure that I was tracking perfectly on exactly when this story occurred. If it is present-day, the depiction of students the way they were when I taught junior high school (ending in 1985) is accurate; if this is present-day, not so much; I have teen-aged granddaughters.
  2. Why does Michael get up at the talent competition and specifically read something he has written about heroes who are brave enough to speak out, knowing that his mother is not going to take it well and it may force the hidden assault out into the open, with potential blame to be placed on his mother. Michael declares his mother his hero because of her work at a hospital, but I have to ask: was Michael  trying to flush out this belated confession or was it coincidental?
  3. What’s with the unfollowed red herrings? Alice’s father’s romantic pursuit beyond the woman about to give birth to his second child is mentioned (we see him nuzzling someone under-age) and then never pursued again. Likewise, the girl that Michael seems to find attractive, (seen swinging), is barely seen again, even during the Spin-the-Bottle sequence. It is Michael’s friend Alice to whom he appears to be growing closer.
  4. Does the new mother rape victim mean it when she tells Rosemary she, too, would have preferred not reporting her assault? After watching a documentary about rape victims in Austin still trying to get justice, this is understandable. Even those who spoke out against Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, national/international news for deplorable actions against women, are still seeking justice.
  5. Spelling out the cigarette butt’s significance in catching the perpetrator would have been a good idea. Just finding a different brand of cigarette butt  does not seem like enough of an evidentiary breakthrough to lead to the somewhat sudden apprehension of a/the criminal. I understand the desire not to give the criminal any publicity or prominence. But not giving the audience any explanation at all about who did what to whom made the narrative feel incomplete.

CONCLUSION

This was an impressive debut feature film from Tessa Blake, although she already has an impressive resume. She was one of eight women for AFI’s prestigious Directing Workshop for Women. Her films have premiered at Cannes, Woodstock and SXSW, and won awards at Nantucket Film Festival and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. With a cast this accomplished and an important film message, I’ll be watching for her future releases with anticipation.