The Perfect Boy Myth

The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace and shot by Australian Cinematographer, Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. It showcases the work of a creative team of over 100 people from four countries.

Single-channel Video

With historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam war, and inspired by the Cronulla Race Riots of 2005 in Sydney, Australia; The Perfect Boy Myth is a fairytale, which plays upon familiar fairy-tale archetypes. It integrates historical references to real-life events, through a look at the darker side of the idealism at the basis of cultural programming within traditional archetypal storytelling.

The Perfect Boy Myth was selected to showcase at the Cannes Film Festival and in Art Basel, Hong Kong and Time Square, New York

To view this full work, request access by emailing

studio@libertegrace.com

Access is only granted to programmers, commissions, and art collectors.

Character trailers are viewable below the stills gallery:

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The Mother Trailer | They Perfect Boy Myth

14-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Samantha Tolj
The Mother symbolises the perfect maternal figure - a fairy godmother, stunningly beautiful and ethereal. The Orphans, suspended in their desire for her and with eyes glinting like wolves; wait on the edge of their seats for her promised arrival. But she only has eyes for one...
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
The Perfect Boy Trailer | They Perfect Boy Myth

27-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Jacob Rosenberg
The Perfect Boy sits within the mob of orphans without assumptions or expectations. Unexpectedly, he is invited onto the stage by The Mother who chooses him over all the other hungry children. But will she deliver her promise?
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
The Orator Trailer | The Perfect Boy Myth

13-second trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Kate Sherman
The Orator is a machiavellian child dictator who convinces an audience of masked orphans that he is the "only son" destined to bring them the mother they always wanted. This enchanting and charismatic magician seduces his audience with a myth that plays on their simple childish fears.
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
Wolf Boy Trailer | They Perfect Boy Myth

10-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Isaac Harrison
The Wolf Boy hides amongst the crowd of masked orphans watching the Little Mouse being tossed left to right by a black-masked boy and white-masked boy on the stage. As the crowd of orphans begin to chant "Keep! Kill! Keep! Kill!" the Wolf Boy gives the final command: "Kill the wicked vermin!"
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
The Orphans Trailer | They Perfect Boy Myth

9-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth
The mob of masked orphans are guided by one desire: to be accepted and saved from the “black devils” that the Orator threatens are waiting to “devour them” if they do not trust in his power to protect them and deliver the mother they always wanted.
Unexpected rivals will teach the Orator a lesson he won't forget...
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
The Black Skinned Singer Trailer | The Perfect Boy Myth

18-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Calvin Welch
The Black-skinned Singer is the iconic singer that never was, subjugated at the will of a world he has no power in. Unbeknownst to him, he stands asleep before an audience of masked orphans. The Orator instructs him to sing in his unconscious, hypnotised state, in the voice of a white woman.
He is used as a toy in a childish game of power...but looks can be deceiving.
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
The Little Mouse Trailer | They Perfect Boy Myth

24-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Pierre Le
The Little Mouse is a small boy who has every attribute a human boy can have of a little brown mouse. When he dares to fall asleep during the Orator’s speech, he is hailed “A traitor!” and thrust onto stage, as the Orator calls upon the Orphan crowd to decide his fate...To Keep or to Kill?
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.
The Prayer Girl Trailer | They Perfect Boy Myth

30-sec trailer The Perfect Boy Myth | Played by Tiarne Campiano
The Prayer Girl bows her head to pray along with the other orphans, after the Little Mouse is removed. A voiceover of a The Lord's Prayer sung in German is delivered while they pray for The Little Mouse, presumably, now up in heaven. Will they find the grace they were looking for?
The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace, shot by Australian cinematographer Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. The work brought together a creative team of more than 100 people from around the world to create a dark fairy tale about a small, racist society of orphaned children ruled by a charismatic boy who promises to “Protect them from evil” and “Bring the great mother back to life.”
Drawing on historical references to Nazi Germany, a chilling story from the Vietnam War, and the 2005 Cronulla Race Riots in Sydney, Australia, The Perfect Boy Myth plays with familiar fairy-tale archetypes while turning their idealism inside out. The work examines how cultural programming can embed ideas of purity, belonging, authority and protection within stories that appear innocent on the surface.
The Perfect Boy Myth was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and the Art Basel Film Program in Hong Kong, and was presented in Times Square, New York.

The Perfect Boy Myth is an award-winning art video written and directed by Liberté Grace and shot by Australian Cinematographer, Joel Peterson, with performance-maker Kate Sherman in the lead role. It showcases the work of a creative team of over 100 people from four countries.

THE PERFECT BOY MYTH

LIBERTÉ GRACE