MovieChat Forums > Little Men (2017) Discussion > Why would the father throw out the kid's...

Why would the father throw out the kid's art?

posted 8 years ago by MaximSinclair
9 replies | jump to latest

He's an actor in small plays, surely he would appreciate his son's art and what it means.

Kid was a wooden actor anyway.

[–] SceneIt22 8 years ago

When did he throw out the kid's art? I don't recall that part...

[–] James_Gatz 8 years ago

It's implied right after they move into the new place. To be honest I think it happen by accident. I don't think he would have done it on purpose. Things like that happen. He was under a lot of stress with the move and the death of his father, so he can be cut a little slack for being a bit careless.

[–] SceneIt22 8 years ago

Thanks!

[–] nardog 7 years ago

Agreed. And come to think of it, the painting might have been in the garbage bag the dad was throwing out when we see him quietly cry.

[–] jnskrft 7 years ago

Kid was wooden, because he played a "wooden" character. The scene where he speaks again to his parents proved he has strong potential.

[–] wearyourlove 7 years ago

There was nothing wooden about him. Timid, introspective, reticent, inquisitive, yes. Those qualities are often not easy to convey. Taplitz gave my favorite performance in the movie.

[–] jnskrft 7 years ago

So you agree with me, you want to substantiate my argument or you want to correct me? If the first two notions are your intention: thanks... if the latter is the case: I didn't write anything to the contrary to your position, that's why I put wooden in quotation marks ;)

[–] slipcat555 7 years ago

Throwing out his son's art is completely in character. It shows how the father didn't really support his son's ambition to become an artist. The father wasn't especially successful in his acting career and probably wishes he had done something more practical with his life. This comes up again at the end of the film when he tells the story about an artist he knew when he was younger, who never made it. He seems to be telling Jake not to put all his hope into becoming an artist. And in another scene he even tells him not to draw so much. Not a very inspiring father.

And also in the car after the play, he yells at Tony too, telling him he might not get into art school.

If the father had been more successful, he could have allowed Leonor to stay, at the lower rent. But on the other hand, maybe he wouldn't have let her anyway. He was not a big-hearted person.

[–] ciffou 7 years ago

I know, right?
At that moment we didn't know he was an actor so it looked like both parents were out of touch with their son's needs.
It might seem like they intended for him to get to know his son and realize he also had artistic interests.