I take exception to the person who posted the snarky review that the Mom dies, the dad can't fill her shoes & nothing much else happens. I feel that the pivotal moment of the film is after the boy falls & his dad actually requests his schoolbooks to help him with his essay. The essay goes something like this "My dad is my favorite person he always understands when I'm sad..." The dad reads the essay & the boy explains he can't finish it. The young boy says "You never listen, you never understand." The courage it took for him to actually tell his father that and the courage for the father to actually listen & cry and say he was sorry that's monumental. Any child/adult who's had problems with their parents just melts at that moment. All of the little wounds that this boy must endure build up. This is what makes a childhood. If you're told all of the time you're not important. It really kills your soul.
My husband & I watched this & he cried because he misses his own family. I cried because I never really had a family to miss. I don't know which is worse. Being a million miles away from the loving family that you know or growing up never being connected or understood by those in your household? This movie is powerful. If you prefer not to watch movies that make you cry then I don't recommend it. I don't understand why this doesn't come on cable? I had to buy a copy of the VHS tape.
My husband & I watched this & he cried because he misses his own family. I cried because I never really had a family to miss. I don't know which is worse. Being a million miles away from the loving family that you know or growing up never being connected or understood by those in your household? This movie is powerful. If you prefer not to watch movies that make you cry then I don't recommend it. I don't understand why this doesn't come on cable? I had to buy a copy of the VHS tape.