WHEN ZACHARY BEAVER CAME TO TOWN

US, 2003, 85 minutes, Colour.
Jonathan Lipnicki, Cody Linley, Jesse Pennington, Jane Krakowski, Eric Stoltz, Kevin Corrigan, Sascha Neulinger.
Directed by John Schultz.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town is based on a novel by Kimberley Willis Holt and written for the screen by its director John Schultz (Band Wagon and light comedies, Like Mike, Drive Me Crazy and The Honeymooners).

The film focuses on the world of children, the world of twelve-year-olds. Toby and Cal are good friends in a small American town. Cal’s older brother Wayne goes to war and is killed in an accident. A truck comes to town with the fattest boy in the world, played by Sascha Neulinger. He is a sideshow attraction and his guardian is in search of further acts for the group. He leaves the boy in the town and authorities call Social Security to put him into some kind of foster care. In the meantime the two friends have befriended the fat boy. There are a number of complications, emotional issues in the families of the boys including parental separation, grief at death in the family, young girls and their problems with growing up and relationships.

The film has a warmth, is also down-to-earth even if it has the touches of fantasy. There is an interesting culmination where the friends take Zachary Beaver to the river to be baptised so that he can be saved and be with his mother who is in Heaven.

1.A piece of Americana? The Texas atmosphere? The small town? Boys growing up? Friendships?

2.The atmosphere of the town, the central area, restaurants, the sheriff? The homes? The cotton fields? The gardens? The parking lot with the caravan? An authentic feel? The musical score?

3.The introduction to Toby and Cal, the same age, Cal daring Toby to climb the silo, Wayne rescuing him? Their respective families? Wayne going off to military service? The boys sad? His letters home? Cal not answering, Toby answering for them? His mother and the sad news of Wayne’s death? The boys’ reactions? The funeral? The taking of the letter, Toby giving it to the family?

4.Toby as the centre of the film? His age, his glasses, his mother giving him contact lenses? Her going off to Nashville for the competition? Her being runner-up? Her staying, the separation from her husband? The phone calls to Toby – and her literally appearing? Her song? The possibility of her return home or not? Toby and his friendship with Cal, the daring? His eyes on the young girl but her being with Juan? Activity around the town, the boys and their bike-riding, in the countryside together? The arrival of the fat boy? Their looking at him, taking the little girl and buying tickets, going into the caravan, talking with him? Their fascination? Their return, Cal looking at his Bible, Toby and his taking care of the little girl and her accident? Toby and the girl, her being lonely, having broken up, going home with her, giving her his mother’s pearls, her giving them back? Cal and Toby watching, the older boys at the caravan, their throwing stones, breaking the window? Their fear of the sheriff? The sheriff asking them to talk with Zachary? Getting the older sister to talk with him, to drive him? The news of Wayne’s death, their not turning up to take Zachary out? Toby and his grief, the clash with his father, the truth about his mother not coming back, the phone calls? His not going to the funeral, going to see Zachary, taking the truck, driving him, their escapades, the police looking, the railway line and getting off the track in time, crashing the car? The return home? The reconciliation with his father? The issues of Zachary’s being taken? Paulie and his turning up again, the happy ending for Zachary? Cal and the fight after Wayne’s death? The baptism, getting the man in the bar to perform the baptism? His warnings about drink? The happy ending and the reconciliation?

5.Zachary Beaver, the story of his mother’s death, her being large? His not being baptised? His surly attitude, partner with Paulie? Travelling around the countryside, the children watching him, the selling tickets? The breaking of the window, his frightening of the little girl? The talk, his plan to go out, getting himself ready? His disappointment when they didn’t come? The next morning, with Toby, going on the ride, telling him the truth? The baptism, Ferris and his taking them to the river, Zachary’s happiness? Paulie and his return, the settling of the issue? Going on his travels with the new acts?

6.Paulie, his being Zachary’s guardian, leaving him, the town criticism, his return, his story of being held by the police, made to work, not allowed a phone call? Zachary’s love for him? His bringing the new acts, their performance? Going off together?

7.Otto and Heather, the marriage, Otto the quiet type at home, cultivating the worms, giving them for people’s gardens? The ladybugs and the boxes, and their being set into the sky to everyone’s delight? His talks with his son, the truth about his mother, climbing onto the roof, Toby’s anger, not going to the funeral, his running away? Otto and his love for his son, their reconciliation?

8.The other parents, the grief for the dead son in war? The mother and her looking after her daughters? Neighbours?

9.The sheriff, his kindness and concern? Ferris, wounding himself to avoid going to Vietnam, his drinking, his warnings, his intending to be a minister, dressing as the minister, conducting the baptism after the discussion about Jesus and John the Baptist?

10.A portrait of a small town? Strange characters? Likable characters?