LOST BOY
US, 2015, 88 minutes, Colour.
Virginia Madsen, Matthew Fahey, Mark Valley, Carly Pope, Sosie Bacon, Jacob Buster, Joshua Burrow.
Directed by Tara Miele.
There have been a number of films about child abductions, what happened to the child, the consequences for the grieving family, the possibilities of recovery, and the child finding its place in the family again.
This film opens with home movies illustrating the affection for the child who was taken. 11 years later, the mother, Virginia Madsen, is strongly involved in helping parents to find their children again. She says she lives in hope for the recovery of her son and, if there is no reporting of his death, he could be still alive. She is a strong woman and has alienated her husband with her intensity, he wanting a divorce and intending to re-marry, his intended being pregnant. He has also been looking after their daughter and the son who was born after the abduction.
A young man sees the notice of the search for him and turns up claiming that he is the son. Each parent readily accepts him but there is talk of blood tests and DNA tests to verify.
At first the audience probably thinks that he is not genuine but, as the film progresses, it would seem that he is. But the main point of the film is how difficult it is for an adult to come back after being abducted as a child, with vague memories of the family, upset with what has happened during the years of abduction, abuse, life on the street, and wanting his family and finding other members as obstructing his place in the family and recovery of it, leading to bizarre behaviour towards the other members.
Not quite what might have been expected of a film about abduction – but challenging and offering different points of view.
1. A drama about family, relationships, abduction, the sense of loss, possibilities for recovery?
2. The American city, homes, offices, lakes, the streets? Authentic feel? Musical score?
3. Introduction to Laura, her campaigns, Kyle as co-worker, her energy, her optimism, interviews with parents whose children had been abducted? Her own dedication?
4. The home movies, Mitchell and Summer, their parents’ love, the details, swimming, the kite? The reality of Laura’s obsession? The breakup of the marriage? Greg, his love for his child? His trying to persuade Laura to let go? His relationship with Amanda, her pregnancy? His care for Summer and Jonathan? Laura being late for Jonathan’s performance, his being upset? Summer and her disdain for her mother? Going to see the dead body at the morgue, not their son?
5. Laura putting up the notice, the young man looking at the notice, taking it, a young man on the streets, the mystery of his life? Cutting his hair, going to see Laura? Her recognising him? The impact on her, the impact on him? Letting Greg know, Greg recognising him? Summer’s reaction, Jonathan’s reaction? Amanda and her wariness?
6. The need for identification, the birthmark, Mitchell’s tattoos covering it? Going for the blood test, Mitchell taking the syringe, wanting Jonathan’s blood? The DNA swabs?
7. Audiences wondering whether Mitchell was the son or not? Indications that he was not? Indications that he was? The mixed memories? His becoming part of the family? Amanda and her wariness, taking the photo?
8. Mitchell and his behaviour with Jonathan, the bruises, frightening him, threatening him? Jonathan keeping quiet? Amanda discovering the bruises? Mitchell and his friendship with Summer, driving the car, her tattoo, her boyfriend? The later clash, his behaviour towards her, touching her? The fight with her boyfriend?
9. Mitchell taking Greg’s phone, his motivations, Amanda ringing and his having the phone? His talking with Greg, preventing him to meet Amanda for the test? His apology, Amanda being upset? Mitchell confronting her, pushing her, the fears about the baby?
10. Laura, Kyle and his friendship, the outings, the meal? Introduction to Mitchell? Kyle and his being bashed, suspecting Mitchell?
11. Laura, her puzzles, questioning Mitchell, believing him?
12. The ultimate threat, Mitchell taking Jonathan, to the water? Laura in pursuit, confronting him, their going into the water? Her rescuing Jonathan?
13. Mitchell’s disappearance, the audience seeing him on the street, the parents letting him go?
14. The important themes of the experience of the abduction by the boy, the mystery of his life for 11 years, memories of abuse, sexual exploitation, on the streets? Wanting a family,
fitting in and not fitting in, seeing the other members of the family as threats?
15. The film offering complexities about abduction and the consequences for the child taken, for the family, for a possible reconciliation?
