Little Children – A study of suburban unease
February 19th 2007 23:16
Set in a Wisteria-Lane-feeling community, Little Children follows several inhabitants whose lives intersect in playgrounds, swimming pools and streets of their small community in unexpected and potentially dangerous ways. Judgements, appearances and the perfect family are strong ideals for the people, in particular the women in this world.
Its title is ironic as it is aimed more at the parents than children and what it means to grow up. This idea is brilliantly portrayed through characters - while categorised as ‘adults who have yet to outgrow certain adolescent stages. After my last post, I am taking more notice of names and connotations, but I am still having trouble remembering titles… I asked for two tickets to see Children of God, a film I later realised that I wasn’t even sure existed. I think I was thinking of Children of a Lesser God. Anyhoo, I’m digressing into inane whittering. Back to the real title, I had assumed already assumed before seeing the film that it would be about adults rather than children, but rather than advocating my cleverness I think it was because of some of the reviews I’d read. The film’s main landscape is played out in spaces usually associated with kids and infants: playgrounds, living rooms, skateboard ramps and public pools. The actual children are portrayed as less juvenile than the adults, as silent witnesses to the grown ups’ miseries, stumbling through life, love and morality. The film and title seems to suggest the adults are the children that need to grow up.
This is actor/director Todd Field's second feature after the serious family melodrama In The Bedroom (2001), based on a novel by Tom Perrotta that, among other things, deals with adultery in a small town. I haven’t seen In The Bedroom yet, but am now definitely interested after gaining so much from seeing Little Children .
Winslet plays Sarah, mother-of-one, who does not fit into the picture perfect world of her town. She is forgetful, happy to be spontaneous and somewhat of an outcast, yet as a viewer, I was drawn towards her and her situation. When she meets househusband Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson), with their offspring in tow at the local playground with an audience of ‘perfect’ women watching – they form an immediate bond. Both have absent partners, Sarah’s husband is addicted to on-line porn and Brad’s wife, Kathy is physically and career-wise the perfect wife. She is the main breadwinner and Brad needs to answer to her for the smallest of requests. Sarah portrays some elements of desperate selfishness; she is angry and impatient towards her daughter for needing attention when all Sarah wants is some time to herself to write.
Field chose excellent actors – all performances are strong and convincing and the attraction between Sarah and Brad is contagious. Despite the possible effects of their affair on their spouses and children, I wanted them to be together. I felt empathy towards them and their situations.
The main sub-plot deals with a singularly unpleasant sex offender, powerfully played by Jackie Earle Haley, who is given no chance of redemption by the town’s righteous upholders of law and order. He cannot connect with people his own age and seeks sexual gratification with children or with people who - like him - cannot fit into the adult world.
Despite this being an effective, involving film, I did not find it without a couple of quibbles. My main being its oddly-delivered and prosaic voice-over narration, obviously aimed at deliberately reminding us that it was once a novel. This decision might have worked if it were in scenes where clarification or further information might have been helpful, but this was not the case. I resented being told what I knew was already happening, it was an aural and visual tautology. As a viewer I wanted to be free to learn the information myself, I didn’t want my hand held. Luckily, the effect was only intermittent and the rest of the film was enticing.
My last quibble is that I personally didn’t find the ending entirely satisfying which was so disappointing. It didn’t quite climax as effectively as I would expect the director wanted it to, but it does illustrate how their actions force them all to face truths about themselves, and - finally - accept their responsibilities as parents and spouses. This accepting is what creates maturity.
This is a moving, sad, thoughful and sometimes funny tale. It forces you to re-evaluate your idea of self and your thoughts on others and how we sometimes judge and dismiss others. It sways you to see people you would normally loath and dismiss in a differently light, which to me is a characteristic of an affecting film.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Lovely and well written, just a modern day version of Prince Charming [gone wrong perhaps]
They say there's nothing new in the world.
I wonder about that.
katyzzz
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Excellent review...2nd paragraph has me in stitches!
I do want to see this, probably because of Winslett's Oscar nomination.
What do you think T...Is her performance worthy?
It's about time she won an Oscar, or has she already?
Not that it matters...it's enough to be nominated right??
Hope you're well Tracy...
Dusk
Comment by Jimbo
Hah, DuskDevi, whenever I see Kate Winslett these days, I think to her cameo in the Extras, and her comment about actors always winning Oscars for playing retarded characters. Perhaps it was deliberate, but at some points I don't think she brought herself out as intelligent as she should've been given her character's background, education, and the narrator's description of her personality at the beginning of the film.
Comment by David
Love the poster ...
As to narration in films? ... One of my big turn-offs ...
I once wrote an entire screenplay without even putting any characters' dialogue in ... just to train myself to write visually ... The end result? ... I found I didn't need much dialogue at all ... The dialogue ended up being very sparse and minimal ...
(Don't get me wrong though. I am not against what critics call dialogue driven films ... [read: Pulp Fiction, or anything by Tarantino] ... but essentially? Tarantino's films are not dialogue-driven ... at all ... (critics have to criticise everything because they don't understand what the term 'constructive criticism means. They think their job description on entails being 'hyper-critical') *** [Like a lot of people in both the real and virtual worlds, I guess) ... Tarantino's films are story-telling at its finest ... he's just a master of both ...
And I also don't subscribe to the theory that film is a strictly visual medium either (it has accompanying sound, which is just as important) ... Orson Welles came from a radio background, and he knew the value of sound (not necessarily someone's voice ... but just the value of sounds .... [due to his background in radio ... (and hence his mastery of it in cinema ... [Hitchcock was another one who understood this ...
I get so off track when I start ranting and raving about film ... * Back to the point ... ?
Listening to excessive narration in a film? ...
It's like a woman who won't shut up when all you want to do is kiss her ... *** ... Sometimes? You just have to kiss her to shut her up ... whether she likes it or not, or whether she was expecting it or not ... [the old element of surprise works every now and then (pity it has to work both ways and you get slapped*) ... But this woman that does accept it? You just have to keep kissing her until she gets the message ... (loud and clear?) ... Is there such a thing as Tongue Braille? ... *
And sometimes, you just have to walk out of a film and go and look for a woman who won't shut up ... ***
David ...
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
I`m going to see this film tonight so I won`t read your post until I return...it sounds like an interesting one though....
I'll be baaaack
ash
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Great review. I'm really interested in seeing this movie. I really like Kate Winslet and want to see how she pulls this off.
I'll be sure to see this one
Kylie
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The subject matter of Little Children sounds enticing and a few other friends have already recommended it.
Chances are I wont see it till Dvd but thanks Tracy for thoughtful review.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Having said that, I love Kate Winslet and am yet to pass up on another opportunity to see her naked. So the film should get points for that at least, I guess.
this was my full review - Little Children
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for all your comments, sorry to be so slow in replying.
Katyzzz, I think the same story can be told in a different way....and I like that....this film had a focus on infidelity but it did not come across as being moralistic, rather I felt empathy for many of the characters...and even the sex offender in one scene (the swimming pool scene if anyone sees it). That empathy was soon shaken away though...!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Good to see you. I'm well thanks, how are you?
I'm not sure if Kate Winslett's performance was/is Oscar worthy. It's good but I wouldn't say it's outstanding.....
Yes, I also like seeing a film that makes me look at some parts of human behaviour that makes me uncomfortable...such as feeling empathy at one stage for the sex offender as I said to katyzzz.
Glad you had a chuckle about my memory lapses....I really don't know what's happening...Freud would probably say that I subconsciously don't want to see these films, but I think he's wrong....
Byeee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comments, I also thought it was a bit shaky and uneven. I definitely thought that about the ending. It was perplexing....Which storyline was it that was introduced half-way...I can't recall that one, I'm pondering....
Yes, voice-overs can work well sometimes and horrifically other times. I also thought that the Madame Bovary references were a bit obvious....but it did illustrate the book club members' judgements strongly.
I like what you said about the transition from childhood to adulthood not going quite as well as we would like...that's very true to life. And yes, I think Kate's education, aspirations could have been drawn out more as well as her absent relationship with her husband.
Byeeee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Yes, I like the poster and the sensuality of this film. The first sexual scene was particulalry striking as it was tender and intimtae, accentuated by their cokmplete nudity.
Voice-overs are a film device that does tend to drive me a bit batty so that's why I think I mentioned it strongly in my review. It was only used at certain times, but it was those certain times where it felt crucial not to be told what was happening, I wanted to feel it, to sense it....I didn't want it to be forced.....
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about it
Byeee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comments. I enjoy and devour character-driven films which is why despite its flaws, I was immersed in the film.
I'm looking forward to hearing what you think when you've seen it
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for your comments. That's interesting that you've heard positive things about it, only one of my friends has seen it so far and he thought a lot of it.
I'm really interested in seeing In The Bedroom, especially after hearing your opinion. I hadn't heard of it before this film.
I think it can easily be a DVD choice, rather than a cinema one.
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
In some ways it's a subtle film where the messages creep up on you....and I like that....
As I said to Kylie, I tend to devour character-driven films which is why despite its flaws, I was immersed in the film. To simply say it's good or bad is too simplistic for me...I like to dissect and think it through afterwards...if it's worth it of course...
But it doesn't sound like it would be your cup of tea...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I'll read your review and comment in a bit....
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I found the ending kinda interesting. It isn't wholly satisfying, the director purposefully builds up this tension suggesting something even worse is going to happen .... but it doesn't, just like life's own strange permutations of joy and sorrow, they never pull or push the way you want them to ...
How's the urgent sex on the washing machine! Now that's gotta get your clothes clean!
Patrick Wilson is a hot new talent!
The voiceover was intriguing ... no one is credited to it at film's end.
I hope Kate gets the Oscar (in recognition of Eternal Sunshine as well)
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
I caught 'Music and Lyrics' instead...ah what a great film! I laughed the whole way through (no one else seemed to so maybe it is just my warped sense of humour
will have to come back even later now!!!
ash
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I was wondering if you saw it, I can't believe it's not on anymore!! I was really curious to hear what you thought of it. That's ridiculous. Well, when you see it on DVD, I'd still love to hear what you thought
I'm seeing Music and Lyrics at the Mums and Bubs session with my friend on Thurs. By the way, I think they should rename those sessions to Mums, Bubs and Friends, but I guess that's an aside.
All the reviews that I've read have said that film is rubbish, but I don't care. As I always say, sometimes you have to have a bit of fluff in life. It's great to hear that you said it made you laugh....now I'm looking forward to it even more...
Trace xx
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
*lol* mums, bubs and friends...love it!
I hope you enjoy the film, like I say I have a pretty weird sense of humour, but I chuckled the whole way through...hope you do too
have fun Orble gal pal
*hugs*
ash
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I know what you mean, some films stay on for eons and then others just disappear....
Strange.....maybe someone should do a study on it...probably someone has....
Have a lovely night xxx