gettin' grown
Dear Prof. Greer:I loved both Color Blind and Gettin' Grown! Thank you so much for bringing your work to Alabama A&M University and for spending so much time discussing your ideas and experience.
OK, why did I like Gettin' Grown? Very sensitive character portrayal. That is, even for the characters who appeared on the screen for a short period of time (the gangly kid who says he can't go to the drugstore with Eric, the neighbor who asks Eric to fill her prescription -- which ended up being birth control pills? a diaphragm?, the male owner of the drugstore), I had an instantaneous sense of who they were. I'm not articulating this well. That is, each character seemed full, even when we only saw him/her for a short bit, and even if s/he presented a short part of the narrative.
The main characters were only more so deeply and complexly portrayed. The sick grandmother who fights for control overtly (contradicting daughter's methods of childraising) and covertly (getting Eric to buy her candy); the mom who wants to help her boy grow up and protect him at the same time; the father who wakes his son in the middle of the night and then commiserates over the conniving uncle.
I love this later scene with the father, who is so dedicated to his kid that he takes him in the middle of the night to Walgreen's so the son can successfully complete his task -- both parents teach Eric about consequences and accountability with a huge amount of love. I loved the ending, too, when Eric's mom says, "Now make a big wish and blow out the candles," and Eric does just that. I'm left with a sense of expectancy, wondering what Eric has wished for and knowing somehow that his future challenges may be equally difficult, equally dangerous, but also fully supported through his family. I want to know Eric when he gets older, want to know how he turns out.
And that's one reason I'm happy about your revision and eager to see what you've done with the addition of a present frame for the current film, which becomes a flashback. I'm also curious about the choice of snow for the frame of the revision. I'm already seeing a huge visual contrast between frame/present and flashback. And I wondered about Eric's name, too. He chooses to give up the remote-contolled car and claims the 76ers jersey with his name, "Snow," written on the back. His uncle mentions something about "snow" as Eric approaches him outside the bar.
I also loved the portrayal of extended loving family in Eric's home. That kitchen was a powerful place.
Sincerely,
Sandra Shattuck
posted by Sandra @ 5:23 AM
8 Comments:
The way you are explaining the movie makes me want to really see the movie. I hope that we can watch in it in class.
Dr. Shattuck
I enjoyed reading your blog, it gave me more of a perspective of the movie. Unfortunitly, I was unable to attend the viewing of the movie but was able to feed of the telling of the story in class, and from reading your journal. The movie sounds as if it is one of those kinds of movies where you can put yourself in the shoes of the main character, everyone has experienced that neighbor that always needs something done. Having that one uncle who everytime he comes arounds the first thing out of his mouth is "can I hold something". And the main thing that everyone has experienced at least once in their adolesence has been peer pressure. The director has (in my opinion) acheived his goal, by reaching his audience and allowing us to connect with his character.
Dr. Shattuck, the way you advertise the movie makes it seem like a interesting and moral movie. Do you think it would make it in the box office
After reading your blog I REALLY want to see the film. It's seems like it is getting harder to find films or books that you can truly relate to. It seems that Mr. Greer has done a great job if so many A&M students truly enjoy his work.
The way you are describing this movie would make anyone want to see it. Are you referring to Eric Snow, that is in the NBA? I wish that I had the time to have checked out this movie. The impression that I get from you about this movie, makes me think that a lot of A&M students can relate to it.
Who produced this movie? I wish i actually would have tried to get the extra credit points, and checked out the movie (lord knows i need them). The story seems to be interesting , though im thrown off a bit by talk of Eric Snow, is this a random character? or the guy in the NBA?
I didnt get to view the movie, but after I read your blog it gave me a good idea about it. I think we should have a discussion about it in class.
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