THAT’S WHAT I AM

US, 2011, 101 minutes, Colour.
Ed Harris, Greg Kinnear, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton, Amy Madigan.
Directed by Mike Pavone.

That’s What I Am is a story from the 1960s. It opens with television footage of events in the 1950s into the 1960s, especially the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson becoming president, the war in Vietnam.

However, the film is set in a small town, focusing on a family, focusing on school. Chase Ellison portrays Andy Nichol, an intelligent young boy, rather awkward, influenced by peers and something of a moral coward as regards bullying in the school. It is a coming of age film for Andy as he becomes infatuated with Mary Clear and has to deal with it as well as with the bullies. The film also focuses on a tall and very awkward young boy in the school, Big G., Stanley. He is played by Alexander Walters in his only film performance – and very effectively.

The film also focuses on what happens in the school. Ed Harris is Mr Simon, one of the best teachers in the state. He encourages a love of literature in his students, they listen rapt as he reads the story of Joan of Arc. He sets up a project whereby two students work with each other and nominates Andy to work with Stanley. The other students react – and Stanley seen as the victim of bullying, along with his best friend, the smallest boy in the school, Norman, played by Daniel Yelsky. The film shows something of a transformation in Andy as he works with Stanley, gets up som courage, finally confronts the bully.

However, there is a subplot with Mr Simon. He is a widower of nineteen years, literary, dressing somewhat flamboyantly. A rumour goes around the school that he is homosexual, and this is taken seriously by one of the parents (Randy Orton) whose son is also a bully in the school, picking on a young girl who has pockmarks as well as elaborate wires for her teeth. Andy also talks about the rumour – but has good advice from his thoughtful mother but is interrogated rather brutally at the meal table by his father, who is continually correcting Andy and helping to fix practical things with him like mowing the lawn properly.

Amy Madigan (Ed Harris’s real-life wife) plays the principal of the school, the first woman principal in the county. She confronts Mr Simon, asking him to deny the rumours. He does not want to do this. Since this is the 1960s, he decides to move away to Florida. At the end of the film there is a talent quest, Stanley singing a song and making an impression on students and parents. With a farewell to Mr Simon, and acclaim by his class, Andy goes to visit him. Mr Simon thinks it is to check up on the homosexuality and points out that he has been a widower for nineteen years. However, Andy’s question is why he chose Andy to work with Stanley – and Mr Simon knew that he had the capacity to be successful and to be transformed.

The film is told in voice-over from later decades with Andy as a writer. The title of the film comes from Mr Simon’s making his students acknowledge their gifts and say ‘That’s what I am.’ At one stage, Mr Simon wins a car in a competition for stating what peace is in twenty-five words or less. His statement was, ‘Human dignity plus compassion equals peace.’ (The narration is by Greg Kinnear.)

1. A 60s memoir? The perceptions of almost half a century later?

2. The United States in the 60s, the visuals of the 1950s and 60s on television? The achievement of the 50s and 60s? The transition to the Vietnam War, Lyndon Johnson as president, the year 1965? Patriotism and jingoism? Bullying in the school – though less racism? The sexual issues for twelve-year-olds?

3. The two streams of plot: Andy, approaching puberty, Mr Simon and his skill as a teacher, the sexual rumour? The blend of the two streams, the resolution? The glimpse of the past and issues and the way attitudes have changed over the half-century?

4. The title, Mr Simon’s assertion? That each child should be able to say, ‘That’s what I am,’ a writer, a teacher?

5. The voice-over, the older writer? The retrospect and what he had learnt?

6. The focus on Big G., his name as Stanley? The narrator’s description, the visuals, seeing him in class, the project and sharing with Andy, his being bullied with the water pistol by Rick Brown, his stoicism, intelligence, his friendship with Norman? Sitting alone? The group of outsiders in the school grounds? His character, intimidating but non-violent? The achievement, the poetry, his song at the end, his acclaim? The narrator indicating that he would still be bullied?

7. Andy’s story, in class, the project, his reluctance, the pressure of the peers, his cowardice in not helping Stanley against Rick Brown? At home, his father and his helping glue the plane, criticism of the lawn-mowing? His son’s having a different approach – and at the end, asserting himself against his father? His love for his mother, her common sense, getting him to call Big G. Stanley, her wise words about going steady, about age, about homosexuality? Andy as his puzzle, the rumours, the discussions at home? Delivering the papers, his infatuation with Mary Clear? Talking with her, going steady, Ricky Brown and his reactions, bullying? Meeting at the tunnel? The kiss and her helping him to kiss? Her having the timer? Mr Simon and the task, his skill as a writer, supporting Mr Simon, at the talent quest, kicking Ricky Brown in the groin and preventing the upset for Stanley? The final visit, Mr Simon answering his questions, but the question of why Mr Simon thought he could do the project with Stanley?

8. Ricky Brown, the bully? With Big G., taking Norman’s food? At home, the other boys in the class, especially Jason? At the concert, the kick and his being taken out?

9. Norman, small, smart, friends with Stanley, defensive for him, not wanting to go to the talent quest, finally going, his surprise?

10. The girls in the school, Mary, her father and the delivery of the paper, her age, Andy buying the bracelet (and the issue of the three cards – worth a fortune later)? The boy and his sales?

11. Karen, pockmarks, her teeth, Jason and his bullying her, cutting her, the superstition? His parents and their attitude, the rumours?

12. The character of the principal, the first woman in the county, her being accosted by Jason’s father, his threats? Her defending Mr Simon, going to see him in the classroom, wanting him to deny the accusation, his stances? Her going to the house, meeting the mother, the discussions with the father – and his rationalisation of every aspect to prove that Mr Simon was homosexual? Wanting him sacked? The issue of an example and role model?

13. Mr Simon, his work as a teacher, the awards, reading Joan of Arc and his obvious enjoyment, the response of the students? Sharing with them? The project, his setting up Andy with Stanley? His flamboyant look and clothes? The car, winning, taking the children for rides? His slogan: Dignity plus compassion equals peace? His situation, the meeting with the principal, his decision not to deny the rumours? His wife, widower for nineteen years? His decision to move? His final classes, the enthusiastic farewell from the students?

14. The issue of homosexuality in the 1960s in American society? Ignorance? Assumptions of perversion? The father and his rationalising symptoms?

15. Andy, the final visit, the discussions with Mr Simon – and learning why he had been chosen? His potential to be successful with Stanley?

16. A portrait of characters, issues, coming of age, the 1960s, learning, change? Changes in American society? The tone of the final comments on each of the characters and their subsequent history – semi-facetious?