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Storyline
In 1957, a son and mother flee the East and an abusive boyfriend to find a new life, and end up in Seattle, where the mother meets a polite garage mechanic. The boy continually gets into trouble by hanging out with the wrong crowd. The mom marries the mechanic, but they soon find out that he's an abusive and unreasoning alcoholic, and they struggle to maintain hope in an impossible situation as the boy grows up with plans to escape the small town by any means possible. Based on a true story by Tobias Wolff. Written by
Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
A true story based on the award-winning book by Tobias Wolff.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Despite the movie's title, the real magazine "Boy's Life" is referred to and shown throughout as "Boy's Magazine".
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Goofs
The injured finger that's still bandaged months later in the timeline of the story.
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Quotes
[
first lines]
Tobias 'Toby' Wolff:
It was 1957. We were driving from Florida to Utah. After my mother was beaten up by her boyfriend, we got in the Nash and high-tailed it for the uranium fields. We were gonna get rich and change our luck, which hadn't been so hot since our family broke up five years back.
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Connections
Features
Adventures of Superman (1952)
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Soundtracks
Teach Me Tonight
Music by
Gene de Paul and 'lyrics by
Sammy Cahn
Performed by
Cherie De Castro See more »
I liked this film. I was able to relate not only to the young boy, Tobias Wolff, but also the stepfather Dwight. This film brought back memories of myself growing up when I was that age, as well as memories of being an errant father myself raising a son.
After viewing the movie twice, I checked out the book at the library and read it.
I feel that the film followed the storyline of the book quite well. Robert DeNiro did a superb job of protraying Dwight, as did Leonardo DiCaprio protraying Jack.
I recommend viewing this film by anyone who is raising a teenage son, so as to give some insight to the pitfalls that adolescence will challenge a father. Don't wait until after you have already raised your son, as then it is too late to benefit from the knowledge you will gain from this excellent story.