MovieChat Forums > Joe the King (1999) Discussion > Alcholic Family

Alcholic Family

posted 18 years ago by Devans00
5 replies | jump to latest

To me, the main focus of the movie was about growing up in an alcholic family. I didn't think Joe was a bad boy. Joe's growing up circumstances drove him to do anti-social stuff more than anything else.

The fact he had so many responsibilites and he was more of an adult than both of his parents put together. No matter which way he turned, the deck was stacked against him. He was poor, he had a loser, abusive father, the mother didn't help too much, the brother pretty much ignored him, his only friend, Ray, was in as bad a situation as he was.

His teachers and counselor and school didn't know the first thing about what was really going on with Joe and didn't really try that hard to find out. I mean, come on. A thirteen year old kid tardy more than 50 times and no one thinks to look into his living situation?

It was almost as if Joe was destined to end up in juvie or jail. At least he got put away before he knocked up some chick.

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

[–] snoho 11 years ago

Well yeah that was pretty much the point of the film

[–] ember_rose183 11 years ago

Ugh.
The way the school treated him pissed me off. Mainly because I could relate to it.
I had (have) and alcoholic mother and it was a problem for me to focus on school. My dad was gone a lot for work and my mom was always doing her own thing. So it was up to me to take care of my younger brother. Which meant getting to school late, not doing or finishing homework, forgetting school supplies, etc. Instead of my school(s) asking why I never had my homework or whatever, they would humiliate me. I never got to go to recess, my teacher went through my backpack in front of the whole class, and I was lectured in front of the whole grade. They belittled me constantly. It still pisses me off to this day.
That scene where Joe forgot his drum sticks and the teacher was taunting him made me so mad. The poor kid had more important *beep* going on in his life than remembering drum sticks and the teacher couldn't have cared less.
In fact, all the adults in his life couldn't care less.
I haven't finished the movie yet, but I'm liking it a lot so far. Could it be because I can relate to Joe, thus feeling completely sympathetic toward him?
Either way, this is a great movie and I think it deserves more attention.

[–] Devans00 11 years ago

Sorry you had to go through all that stuff, ember_rose183. Life can be so F'd up and unfair in so many ways. Shows you that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Unfortunately, kids are still going through similar things in todays education system. Sometimes even worse. In the past year, I've read about kids being punished and suspended for things that could have been handled differently and better.

One girl kept falling asleep and having other "behavior" issues. Turns out she had undiagnosed and untreated illness. Instead of getting her help, the school system kept ratcheting up the punishments.

Another girl was given a criminal record for a science experiment gone wrong. Even though no one was hurt and there was no property damage. Back in the old days, they used to encourage and support academic curiosity, especially if someone was good at something. Now this teenager's whole life is negatively effected by something that used to be rewarded. All she needed was some guidance.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] ember_rose183 11 years ago

Thank you for your sympathy :)

I agree that our educational system is seriously messed up. Kids getting in trouble for the smallest things is getting out of hand. I've read articles about children around the ages of 5 and 6 getting arrested for bringing a lunch to school that wasn't considered "healthy".

It seems to me like the administrators and the teachers no longer want to become involved for fear of getting into trouble. Teachers are meant to not only teach, but to guide their students as well.

Something needs to change, and fast. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening.

[–] Devans00 11 years ago

I hear you, ember_rose183. How ridiculous is it to "arrest" a 5 or 6 year old? The local police department should fine the schools for wasting community resources.

If the adults at an elementary school can't handle misbehaving 50 pound children, they definitely need to get into a different line of work. Even the worst, full body tantrum would only take two adults, max, to bring under control.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.