Taming Andrew (When Andrew came home)

IMDb. Andrew is about 5 years old when his divorced father kidnappes him away from his home and his mother. After another 5 long years Andrew is suddenly brought back to his mother again. However it´s not the same boy she once knew, now emotionally disturbed, not talking and with severe difficulties with relating to other children of his age at school and to other people including most of all his mother. Nobody knows what has happened during the years he was away, and he won´t talk about it. Desperate, with the threat of having Andrew sent to an institution far away from home, Andrew´s mother takes him to the countryside hoping that the new environment would make Andrew well again.  

This American movie from 2000 is quite good I think, with very good actors, not least Seth Adkins, who plays the boy (the returning Andrew). It´s hard to play such a role with this feeling of authenticity. Also the other main characters, the mother, Gail, played by Park Overall, and Andrew´s stepfather Eddie, played by Jason Beghe, are doing well. There is not so much to say about the cinematography, in this respect this is more of an ”ordinary” movie, not focusing on the photo that much. Besides from that I liked this film rather much!

                        

El bola

IMDb. Pablo, nicknamed ”Pellet” (=El bola), is a 12-year old boy living in a city in Spain (filming location: Madrid), where he attends school and is doing the same things the other boys do, for example participating in the ”train-game”. In the ”train-game” the boys have to cross the rails  just before the train comes, trying not to be hit. The director has efficiently placed this crazy high risk ”suicide-game”  in the opening scene, and therefore immediately manage to build up a feeling of tension or thrill in the viewer that doesn´t leave before the end.  

Pablo is played by Juan José Ballesta.

Juan is an intelligent, determined and sometimes mischievious 12-year old with a great deal of natural presence and sensitivity. While Juan has previous television credits, the role of Pellet is his first experience in a full-length feature. Pellet is a complex character with serious family problems and playing the lead was very challenging. Juan is sure that he wants to continue acting and is willing to meet the demands of an acting career while continuing his studies. (Quotation from 2000).

One day a new boy shows up in school, Alfredo, and a friendship begins that will have great effects on Pablo´s life.

Alfredo is played by Pablo Galán.

Pablo was selected from more than 1600 children to play the role of Alfredo. Prior to ”El bola” he had no previous experience in the industry except for entertaining the audience during his older sister´s school plays.

 

 

 

 

 

This film from 2000 is a story about growing up in an abusive environment with a father who is incapable of giving love to his son. It certainly raises questions about parenthood, and about when society should interfere in family matters. Another film where society also intervenes but in different circumstances is  ”Sacred silence” . These questions are never easy as you can see. Both these films are highly recommendable!

COA blogs movie awards

Together with Skykid and Ikarus we are starting ”The COA-blogs movie awards” (COA=coming of age)! We will nominate our own favourites as well as asking you readers about your personal favourites in the various categories. If you have a COA-movie-blog yourself, you are invited to join. This is the first time we have this, and we´ll hope that many of you will participate with your own nominations!

The categories are:

1. Best director award

2. Special soundtrack award

3. Best cinematography award

4. Best acting award

5. Coming of age value award

In a short time I will let you know my own nominations, in the meantime feel free to send your nominations as a comment to this post.

So, who do you think is the best actor? The best director? Which film has the best coming of age value? Let us know!

Declan galbraith – An angel

Derech ha melech Israel 1989

Gabriel and me

(IMDb). ”Gabriel and me” is a British movie from 2001, made by the director Udayan Prasad, and based on a story by Lee Hall. Set in North-East England, it´s about an 11-year old boy, ”Jimmy”, who one day gets the opportunity to become an angel after he had a visit by the archangel of Gabriel. With his father sick in cancer, Jimmy wants to save him if he can. This reminds me of another film, ”Saint Ralph” , where the boy wants to save his mother from dying by performing a miracle. ”Gabriel and me” is rather well shot, though not extraordinary in any way. The boy who plays ”Jimmy” , Sean Landless, is also acting well I think. Despite the religious undertones, the story is quite ok. However, even if this is a film that´s completely ok to watch a rainy day, it´s not at all one of my favourites, mostly because it´s not standing out of the ”mainstream”, and never really touches me.

           

30th Annual Young Artist Awards

 

Come and vote for your favourite young actors!