THE MUDGE BOY

US, 2003, 94 minutes, Colour.
Emile Hirsch, Tom Guiry, Richard Jenkins.
Directed by Michael Burke.

The Mudge Boy is an interesting drama about rural life in the United States. It focuses on a fourteen-year-old boy, Duncan Mudge, who has just lost his mother, lives with his rather taciturn father, working on the farm. He is sensitive, has not come to terms with his identity – moons around on the farm, plays with a pet chicken, wants to join with the teenage types in the local town. The film also raises issues of sexuality, the Mudge boy searching for his identity, his relationship with a boasting neighbour, his attachment to his mother and her wedding dress. The film reaches a kind of climax with the assault by the neighbour on the Mudge boy, his father finding him wearing his mother’s wedding dress. However, the film does not rush to conclusions, rather it just shows the story of the young boy and his struggles with himself and his need for love and affection. The film ends positively with the father recognising his son and embracing him.

The film stars Emile Hirsch as the young boy. He had just made an impression the year before in The Emperor’s Club and was to move on to a wide range of films including a starring role in Speed Racer. The father is played by Richard Jenkins, a versatile actor, appearing in many films – and receiving an Oscar nomination for The Visitor.

The film was written and directed by Michael Burke, with the help of the Sundance Institute, his only feature film – he had made two short films.

1. The film as a piece of Americana, rural life, work on farms, local communities, family, a boy growing up?

2. The farm setting, the house, the barns, the fields? The town and its store? The woods, river and train bridge? The musical score?

3. The title, Duncan and the reference to him?

4. Duncan’s story, Emile Hirsch and his performance, his age, the boy’s experience, devoted to his mother, the effect of her death, his stern and taciturn father? The lack of communication – the meals, talking at the table? The father walking away? An isolated boy, naive? The film not filling in background about his growing up, his education? Listless on the farm, his father inviting him to work? His collecting the eggs? The hens, the pet, the bond with the hens, putting the head in the mouth – the advice of his mother? Embarrassed with his father?

5. The opening, the mother and her riding the country road, the bicycle, her collapse and death?

6. The father, his age, hard work, introspective? Discussions with his farm helper? At home, the table? His wondering about his son? Grief for his wife, collecting her clothes, putting them in the barn? The decision to employ Duncan? Their hard work together?

7. Duncan, his singing in the church, the youngsters laughing behind his back? The group? Unable to buy beer, his giving them the money? Going out with them? The boys, mocking him? The girls? The sex talk – especially Perry and his boasting?

8. His father allowing him to go out again, giving him some money? The young people, the sexual encounters, Duncan watching? Perry and his reaction?

9. Duncan and Perry, the visit, Perry and his work with the cows? His harsh father? His future – no hope? The boys walking, going to the bridge, Perry pushing Duncan in the river, the horseplay?

10. Duncan and his interpretation of Perry’s behaviour, going to the barn? Perry making him put on his mother’s wedding dress? The assault and the effect on Duncan, weeping? Perry, callous, smoking, the aftermath? His father finding him in the dress?

11. Duncan, Perry calling him a faggot? His being bewildered, denial? The episodes, his resuming his life, their effect?

12. His father, appreciation of his son, embracing his son, Duncan’s response?

13. Hope at the end? The experiences for Duncan, scars for the future, his sense of identity? His hope for maturing?