THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON

US, 2019, 97 minutes, Colour.
Shia La Boeuf, Zachary Gottesagen, Dakota Johnson, Thomas Haden Church, John Hawkes, Jon Bernthal, Wayne Dehart.
Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz.

What’s in the title? The explanation for this title emerges and is quite genial.

Over the years they have been quite a number of films featuring children and adults with Down Syndrome. This time the young man with Down Syndrome is at the centre of the film. He is played by Zachary (Zack) Gottsagen. Zack is also the name of his character. He has a friendly on-screen presence and easily draws the audience into his story and into his journey.

Zack has no family and lives in an institution, creating a bit of mischief sometimes, sharing a room with a gruff old man, a cameo by Bruce Dern, who sympathises with him and suggests that can oil his body and slip through the window bars and go on his way. The destination of his way, fostered by an old videocassette that he keeps watching, is the home of a wrestler, Salt Water Redneck. Zack wants to wrestle.

In the meantime, Tyler, an angry young man, suggestions that he was responsible for his brother’s death, a brother whom he loved and admired, creates trouble, stealing catches from local fisherman, pursued by officials, threatened by the men for disrupting their living – and he, spitefully angry, sets fire to their gear. This means a pursuit. He is played as surly (but, eventually redeemable) by Shia La Boeuf who has played plenty of surly young men in his time.

Whatever the providence, Zack and Tyler find each other by accident. Tyler wants to be rid of Zack but experiences a moment of kindness and goes back to rescue him (literally, from a bigoted boy who dares Zack to dive into the water though he can’t swim). This is the prologue to what could be called a road film – although a lot of the travel is by foot, by boat, on a raft, by car. And audiences will appreciate the steps of friendship between the two, some dependence, but not a co-dependence, Tyler hearing Zack’s ambitions and taking on his training.

The film’s drama is a series of events along the way, a vicious attack by the fishermen, an encounter with a blind preacher, Blind Jasper John (Wayne Dehart) who teaches kids, building a raft, meeting up with Zack’s carer, Eleanor (Dakota Johnson, sympathetic), who feels responsible for Zack’s running away. Decisions have to be made.

We know that they will eventually get to meet the famed wrestler (Thomas Haden Church), now grizzled and retired – but ready to teach Zack some moves and arrange a contest with Zack fighting with the moniker, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Falcon his chosen name (and peanut butter the only thing available for some facial decoration!).

So, a nice story development even with some tough moments. It fosters personal care for those need care, awareness and respect for the needs and hopes of the Down Syndrome man – but, probably, a number of professionals will be more concerned with how Zack will manage, his health, his emotional needs, relationships. Well worth considering both sides of this discussion, each learning from the other.

1. The title? The reference to Zack and his ambitions? His wrestling name?

2. The film is a piece of Americana, ordinary people, struggling people, lives and hopes?

3. The settings, the institution, waterways and fishing, the fields, the roads, diners, remote homes, the wrestling? The musical score?

4. The focus on Down Syndrome? Zack in Gottesagen and his performance, screen presence, engaging? An understanding of the syndrome, caring for the syndrome?

5. Zack, in the institution, his mischief in suggesting the old lady pretend to choke? In his room, with the old man, watching the video of wrestling, encouraged to cover his body with oil and escape through the bars? His success, out on the road, under the boats?

6. The introduction to Tyler, in the boat, collecting the fish? The government pursuit? The fishermen, their anger, threats? His setting fire to their gear? Their pursuit in the boat, his hiding in the reeds? Zack on board in keeping him quiet?

7. The introduction to Eleanor, her work in the institution, care for Zack, his escape, the authorities, giving her a chance, her going on the road to look for him, the diner, the store and the encounter with Tyler, the encounter with Jasper, blind?

8. Zack, his age, experience, the ambition for wrestling, his size, unable to swim, the boy taunting him and into the water, Tyler rescuing him? The bond between them? The sharing the road, the stories? Tyler offering to coach, the training, the demands? Surviving on the road, the fish?

9. Tyler, the memories of his brother, his motivations? Vindictive with the fishermen and the burning? Their pursuit? His leaving Zack, in the truck, change of heart, rescuing him from the boy and drowning? The bond growing between the two men? The travels? Tyler and the store, the encounter with Eleanor?

10. Blind Jasper, his religious attitudes, his talk, the gun, with the kids, instruction, emphasis on baptism? The two men working, the making of the raft, going on the way?

11. Eleanor finding them, the interactions with Tyler, the different perspectives on how to deal with Down Syndrome, the institution and care regularity, or fulfilment of life on the road? Her gradual change of heart? Her joy in seeing Zack happy?

12. The fishermen arriving, the threat, Zak with the gun (after the scenes of practice)?

13. The decision to drive to Salt Water Redneck, the encounter with him, the video 10 years old, his retirement? Listening? Waving to Zack? His change of heart, arriving in the car, with his Redneck make up, his wrestling friend, setting up the bout, the fans, Zack in his Peanut Butter Falcon gear, his performance, greeting each of the spectators, their being on side? The tough opponent, his being battered? The scene of his throwing the wrestler out of the ring?

14. The triumph, happiness for Zack? The fishermen, battering Tyler? Hospital?

15. On the Road to Florida, Eleanor and her change of heart, Zack very happy – and the injured Tyler in the backseat? The future?

16. The issues about structured care for those with Down Syndrome? The contrast with giving them some freedom and hope in life?