MovieChat Forums > Little Man Tate (1991) Discussion > What is the point?

What is the point?

posted 17 years ago by thirsch-2
7 replies | jump to latest

The boy runs back home and lives a hum-drum life with mom. Is the point that talents and abilities should not be cultivated?

Wiest's character is treated badly. She is troubled but doesn't deserve the boy's condemnation.

[–] jeny1288 17 years ago

Even though Fred was a genius, he needed to live a childhood. Trying to force him to grow up to fast caused him to be depressed. His talents should be "cultivated" but just because he's smart shouldn't mean that he has to skip an important part of his life.

"This tastes like an orange foot."

[–] hppg 17 years ago

The point was that you need balance. And that's what they tried to show was happening at the ending.

[–] pianomann1984 16 years ago

I Agree. And balance and the change/movement towards it occur in all three characters (As well as in several of the minor roles). I loved the way that all the characters were realistically portrayed as flawed in some way and the film is as much about the shifts in their characters as it is about Fred's.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] melymbrosia 16 years ago

Actually, if you pay attention in the end, it turns out that Dede sent Fred to Jane's school for gifted children. The kids at his birthday party were all from the Grierson Institute. Jane ended up writing the book about him, which we can see Damon reading at the party. Dede wanted her son to both have a childhood and have an opportunity to grow intellectually.

[–] stephy-rose 15 years ago

I've literally just copied and pasted this from another post . . . =p

The reason Fred walked out on Jane, was because although he did need to be challenged, she went entirely the wrong way about it. He was screaming for love and affection which is what his Mom always give him. Thats why he left, the poor kid just wanted to see his Mom.

[–] ScottBang 11 years ago

Point is, never try in life.