STOLEN SUMMER

US, 2002, 91 minutes, Colour.
Aidan Quinn, Bonnie Hunt, Kevin Pollak, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Adiel Stein, Mike Weinberg.
Directed by Pete Jones.

Stolen Summer was the winner of the HBO competition for original screenplays, Project Greenlight, initiated by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The project was financed by the Weinstein Brothers and Miramax.

There was a series on HBO about the competition itself, the difficulties, the winner, the making of this film.

The film was written and directed by Pete Jones, a first-time director. It is something of a memoir as is his second film, Outing Riley, a film about a gay boy coming out.

The film is interesting with its Chicago City settings of 1976. The O’ Malley family is very Catholic, in the Irish traditional sense. Joe, the father (Aidan Quinn) is a fireman and works for the city. He considers it as a good job. This is where he sees his sons working, especially his oldest son Patrick (Eddie Kaye Thomas, the American Pie films). However, Patrick has a dream of being a doctor. Bonnie Hunt plays Margaret O’ Malley, the mother of the eight children.

The film focuses on the eight-year-old Pete O’ Malley, played by a Jewish actor, Adiel Stein. He is quite convincing in his earnestness – a bit hard to believe he is trouble at school where Sister Leonora Mary threatens him with Hell. However, he promises to get better during the summer holidays and lights on the prospect of making conversions to Catholicism. His brother tells him about Paul converting the Romans and the Jews so he goes down to the synagogue, meets the rabbi (Kevin Pollak in a very sympathetic performance) and sets up a lemonade stand.

Complications occur when the rabbi’s house burns down and Joe O’ Malley rescues his son. The two boys become friends – although the Jewish boy is suffering from leukaemia. He becomes the target of Pete’s earnest conversion quest and, since the parish priest, played by Brian Dennehy, says there are rules and tests for first communion, he decides that a decathlon is the best way and the two boys perform that.

The film is complicated, especially with the portrait of the father who is an ordinary working man but is very proud, cannot accept what he considers charity from others, has limited vision for his son. Bonnie Hunt is good as the mother (and was soon to have twelve in the two Cheaper By The Dozen films).

The film is pleasant, emotional – with a touch of sentiment. However, it is interesting in its presentation of Catholics and Jews in those days, and the possibilities for opening up for understanding each other by meeting, discussing, sharing rather than by emphasising doctrinal intolerance or racism.

1.The impact of the film? A humane story? Of the 1970s? A piece of Americana, Chicago style?

2.A film about families, family life, functional rather than dysfunctional, difficulties? The size of families? The hard life? Expectations? Suffering and illness? Relationship between parents, parents and children? Children amongst themselves? A film about friendship?

3.The Chicago summer, the Irish neighbourhood, the Jewish neighbourhood? The church and the school, the temple? The lake, the beaches? Workplaces? The musical score?

4.The film and its background, Project Greenlight, winning the competition, the television series, the making of details in the writing, the direction and production?

5.The film as a memoir, a touch of nostalgia, a clear-eyed look from a child’s point of view? The eight-year-old? His voice-over, earnest, wanting to change the world, at school, Sister’s criticisms, the mention of Hell? His questions about Hell, about Heaven? About being good? His brother, the story about Saint Paul and converting the Jews and the Romans? The Jews of Chicago? Pete establishing his quest? The initial support of his parents? His father disapproving, his mother’s helping him?

6.The Catholic background, the family going to mass, the father not going, everyone in a hurry, the priest meeting the people, the loudness of Catholics, the ritual of the mass? The nuns at school? The parish priest and his listening, advice? A bit stern? Issues of doctrine, the sacraments, the simplified and simplistic view of a child? The Irish Catholic tradition, tough? The touches of prejudice and anti-Semitism? Irish pride?

7.The Jewish background, Pete’s quest, going to the temple, the interiors of the temple, his asking about the crucifix? The rabbi, kindliness? The family, the rituals? The congregation protesting about Pete? The generosity of the Jewish community? Issues of God, prayer, suffering and death, faith?

8.The interfaith aspects, the 1970s, presumptions about Jews not going to Heaven, issues of Hell? The quest, the sacraments? The rabbi and his friendliness, the boy and his earnest Catholicism, Daniel and his learning the sign of the cross and making it before the Jewish grace? Discussions? The tests – and the decision about the decathlon? Baptising Daniel in the beach water? Pete and his taking the hosts, the priest catching him, the explanations about consecration, Catholics earning communion, the priest allowing him to take the unconsecrated host? Pete arriving too late at the hospital, Danny’s death? The final discussion with the rabbi – and a more tolerant attitude?

9.The O’Malleys: Joe, as a father, the Irish background, interested in baseball, his drinking, hard work, working for the city, the fire brigade? Seeing him in action at the fire at the rabbi’s house, rescuing Danny? The inability to rescue the rabbi’s secretary? Patrick and his being a lifeguard, the girls, his dreams of being a doctor, not getting the scholarship, frustration, his father wanting him to work for the city, his attitude? The offer of the scholarship and his father’s opposition? Margaret, the eight children, managing, meals, washing, getting to mass? Reprimands of the children? Talking, listening? The intimacy between Joe and Margaret in their room? The fact of eight children? Concern about Pete and his situation, Patrick, the rabbi’s visit, the giving of the lasagne to the firemen, coming to the house, offering the scholarship, Joe’s hostility, accusing the Jews of wanting publicity?

10.The various kids, their ages, the boy older than Pete explaining about the temple and conversions? The focus on Pete, his doing good, meeting the rabbi, the lemonade stand, the price or no price, no one buying? His meeting Danny, their playing, discussions, the issue of conversion, going to the beach, the various stages of the decathlon, swimming out to the buoy in the lake, Danny not able to, Pete and his trying to help and find ways? The baptism in the water? Danny and his swimming out alone – and leaving the message that he had achieved it? Pete and his ideas, going to the priest, the discussions with him? Being grounded? Learning to be obedient? His father letting him go to the baseball? Getting the host, going to the hospital, his sadness at Danny’s death? The final talk with the rabbi?

11.The rabbi, a good man, open, his friendship with his secretary, her difficulties about Pete, dying in the fire? Love for Danny, the leukaemia? His wife? The meal and the sign of the cross? The gift of lasagne, talking with Joe, going to the house, the offer of the scholarship, his being insulted? Patrick’s visit to him – and his giving the scholarship? Going to the hospital, Danny’s death?

12.Pete and his attitude towards the crucifix, his commenting about Jesus, his look, wanting to get him down?

13.The impact of the film for a non-religious audience and interest? For a religious interest? Dialogue or strict stances? An emotional story, personal stories and sharing – via children?