The friendship of two teenage boys from very different worlds is put to the test by a daring plan to steal animals from the zoo and sell them on the black market.
“Sjoberg and Winslow approach the narrative with the same delicate caution that Cai shows his beloved falcon, shading it with muted colors and a contemplative score (by Samuel Stewart). Their script places as much importance on what characters aren’t saying as on what they are, leaning into wordless giggles, companionable silences or worried gazes into the distance. Even as the boys’ moves become bigger and bolder — at one point, they steal a car to meet a dangerous smuggler — the film is scrupulous about not sensationalizing them. The Falconer wants to keep the focus on the subtly shifting dynamic between the boys, not on the excitement (or peril) of their adventure.”
