THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN
US, 2012, 104 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Dianne Wiest, Ron Livingston, Rosemarie De Witt, James Rebhorn.
Directed by Peter Hedges.
‘Odd’ is an odd word for the title of this film. Yes, Timothy Green is odd, that is, he is not your usual young boy. But, he is sweetness and light rather than odd. This is a nice piece of Americana, magic realism and sentiment with a sad/happy ending.
Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton (fitting easily into the American scene) are a couple who have tried every means available for having a child but without success. We see them at the opening of the film being interviewed by officials of an Adoption Agency. In fact, the whole film is their telling their rather (very) unbelievable tale, punctuated by the flashbacks of their life and what they call their ‘miracle’, the arrival of Timothy Green during a mysterious storm in their drought-stricken town of Stanleyville.
Timothy (C.J. Adams) is a delightful young lad, what Americans would call ‘cute’. And he fits into the family life beautifully bringing enormous joy to the couple who are plunged into instant parenthood. He is nice to everyone, even to the boys who bully him at school. The magic does not immediately help him at soccer practice, tripping over himself, but he gets there. And he improvises, as do his parents, when his aunt (Rosemarie de Witt) has one of her musical afternoons to showcase her own children. He charms an elderly uncle and aunt. He even mellows his grandfather who had not been at all affirming to his own son.
There are some social questions in the background, the economy of the town and its museum, but especially the factory which is about to close down. It makes (and we are shown the detail): pencils.
This review has avoided giving away anything much about Timothy’s previous life and his particular gifts. Just a hint: leaves.
Quite a lot of character actors, including Diane Weist and David Morse, build a strong supporting cast.
It is a nice film, about generally nice people. But, for those who use ‘twee’ as a derogative word, it will be far too sweet.
1. A piece of Americana, sweet, sentiment, hope and success?
2. The old town of Stanleyville, the drought situation, homes, the factory, soccer, the offices? The storms and deluge? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Timothy, the expectations?
4. The opening with Cindy and Jim, at the adoption agency, their discussions with the officials? The talk, the pleading? The hearing – and the officials and their responses? The flashbacks intercut with the interviews? Their story, the clock ticking, pleading to finish their story?
5. Telling their story as a plea for adoption? Their trials, failures, the costs for all the attempts to become pregnant? Its taking its toll?
6. Jim and Cindy, a nice couple, at home, their longing for a child, the medical failures, the words of the doctors? Cindy and her work at the museum, the clash with the proprietor? Jim and his work at the factory, the making of pencils? Hard times? The detailed focus on the production line, the artistic flair for presenting the pencils?
7. The effect of the failure to become pregnant, Jim and his not being able to take it? Desperation – the rain in the night, the noise in the house, Timothy suddenly appearing, dirty, the leaves on his legs? The ferocious storm? Calling the police, the drought persisting, accusations of using the sprinkler, letting off the couple? Cindy and Jim and their amazement at Timothy?
8. Washing Timothy, clothing him? His age, character, American cute? The leaves on his legs? The magic realism? The symbolism, the spirit of growth and fruitfulness? As a child, yet ideal, able to cope with the problems?
9. Timothy Green, his name, his immediate ability to communicate with Cindy and Jim? Calling them Mum and Dad? Pleasant, the clothes, agreeable going to school, the bullies, the principal, his telling Jim who had done it? Their confronting the factory owner, his children? The invitation to the birthday party? His being willing to go? The meeting with Joni, his diving into the pool, her rescuing him, her own red leaf? Their project? His place in the wider family, the grandfather, uncles and aunts, cousins? The football and his awkwardness, being the water boy, his grandfather’s disdain, Jim and his coaching him at home, to kick the ball? His playing, the spirit of enterprise, yet the failure of the final goal? Cindy and her boasting about his music to Brenda, his tapping the drums, Cindy and Jim and their dancing and singing? The falling leaves from his legs?
10. The wider family, Jim’s father, memories of his childhood, hard and non supportive? His presence at the games, his disgust with Tim? Yet his getting a leaf from Tim? Bob, his wife, the older generation, his inventing jelly and peanut butter sandwiches, being in hospital, Timothy making him laugh? Giving him a leaf?
11. Brenda, the kids, the comparisons with Cindy, her talk, practical, thinking that Cindy was artistic and had time for art? At the football, urging the children on? Her musical night, playing the piano, her getting a leaf?
12. Joni, nice, working together with Tim, Cindy and Jim and their suspicions? Cindy seeing the bower, the reconciliation with Joni? Joni getting a special leaf?
13. Reg, the doctor, admiring the leaves, giving testimony at the factory meeting, his leaf?
14. The boss at the factory, his wanting to fire people, asking Jim to do it? Jim and his moodiness having to do this? The invention of the leaf pencil? The meeting, the factory workers upset, thinking they were going to be sacked? The boss and his false claim of inventing the leaf pencil? Timothy and the truth, his parents’ vigorously supporting him, the doctor’s support? The boss and his father’s speech, his being asked the truth, his faltering? The museum owner, tough, her outburst, asking the boss the questions and his failure? Timothy giving the answer? The portrait that Timothy had painted of her, a leaf?
15. Ecology themes, the forest, the leaves, the invention for pencils? Saving the environment, saving the factory and jobs?
16. The overall effect on Cindy and Jim, Timothy as a miracle child, part explanations, covering his legs, the continued encouragement? Yet their final fight and his response?
17. Timothy and its being time to go, the leaves falling, the storm, his final speech of encouragement, his disappearance?
18. The officials, their approving the adoption, bringing the baby, Jim and Cindy receiving Lily?
19. The preparation for having a child, the realities of parenting, the emphasis on accepting people who are different, acknowledging their gifts – and ultimate happiness?
