“Little Children”
Directed by: Todd Field. Starring: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly, Noah Emmerich, Jackie Earle Haley.
The title of director Todd Field’s latest film, “Little Children” refers more to the adult characters who are treated or behave as children within his film. The actual children are ancillary characters, who are both exploited and ignored by the adults that surround them.
The film centers on residents in Massachusetts suburbia. We first see Sarah Pierce, portrayed by Kate Winslet, as one of several mothers at the park watching their young children play. We see her struggle to find a snack at 10:30 AM sharp, the designated snack time at the park, and the other mother’s look down on her for forgetting one. With this, we see she doesn’t quite fit in with them. Their rigidly organized, somewhat unadventurous lives lead them to fantasize about a handsome young father who ventures into the park one day. Actor Patrick Wilson is Brad Adamson and to these suburban mothers who’ve fantasized about him from afar, he’s known as the “Prom King”. When Sarah’s daughter Lucy plays near Brad’s son in the park one day, she’s forced to enter into Brad’s vicinity. The other mother’s dare her to get his number. Dying to break free of her mundane existence, Sarah takes it one step further, and kisses Brad. This shifts them into another fantasy world, beyond the other mother’s imaginations, and is the start of a long affair.
These are only a few of the many complicated characters within this film. I thought this film was well written and acted. Every character and every moment had a purpose, and no character was one-dimensional or overly sympathetic.
The narrative voiceover could have been used more effectively- nearly everything he said was already delivered via the performances. It did, however, create a sort of “eerie storybook” feel to the film which was appropriate. After all, “Little Children”, for Sarah especially, is all about taking a step out of reality and into her dream world- and all the risks that accompany that journey.
Story: A-
Acting: A
Visuals: B
Originality: A-
Enjoyability: B+
Overall: A-
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