SIMON BIRCH
US, 1998, 114 minutes. Colour.
Ian Michael Smith, Joseph Mazzello, Ashley Judd, Oliver Pratt, David Strathairn, Jim Carrey, Dana Ivey.
Directed by: Mark Stephen Johnson.
In many ways, Simon Birch is like a junior odd couple, although Joe and Simon are good friends. The movie is adapted from a John Irving (World According to Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, Cider House Rules) novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany. Irving approved the adaptation.
The strength of the movie is the screen presence of Ian Michael Smith as Simon. He might be physically diminutive, but he makes a powerful impression. Joseph Mazzello (Radio Flyers, Shadowlands, Jurassic Park, River Wild) plays the straight man to Smith's comedy. There is a strong supporting adult cast with a quiet Jim Carrey introducing the movie as the adult Joe reminiscing.
With the religious atmosphere, the Sunday School and the Nativity Play and the ambiguous role of Reverend Russell as well as Simon seeing himself as an 'instrument of God', the movie has to be interpreted in religious tones. This is especially true of the 'orphan' experiences of the two boys, the harsh reality of Rebecca's death and the Reverend Russell's guilt. But, it is most present in Simon's self-giving in rescuing the children.
A great deal of American storytelling wears its heart on its sleeve which audiences from more reserved cultures find difficult to deal with. This is true of Simon Birch, an emotional movie, drawing on the feelings of its audience.
1. The appeal of the film? Sentiment? Heart on the sleeve? The need for some edge in the proceedings, the portrait of Simon, his friendships, his quests, his dying as a martyr for the others?
2. The 1960s, the town, the hospital, homes? Church? The river, the surrounding countryside?
3. The focus on Simon, his birth in 1952, his delivery, the smallest infant ever at the hospital? His growing up, short stature? His popularity with the other children, at school, at church? His own parents, their neglect? Their motivation for neglecting him? The incidents at Sunday school, the Reverend Russell, his always talking about himself, his fate, destiny, an instrument of God? His friendship with Joe? The baseball, the practice, Simon and his first hit, the tragedy of his killing Rebecca with his hit? Joe’s grief, Simon’s sorrow, their continuing friends? The irony of the baseball being stolen? Joe and Simon and the suspects, their breaking into the swimming coach’s office, their being caught? The community service, the church-run retreat? The Reverend Russell and his imposing the discipline? The Nativity play, Simon and his being the Baby Jesus? The upheaval? The Reverend Russell’s anger, barring him from the retreat?
4. Joe, his friendship with Simon, normal size? His relationship with his mother, home life? The mystery of his paternity? The friendship with Simon, at school, at the church? Mischief? The baseball? The grief at his mother’s death? Mr Baker being the suspect for his real father, Joe and Simon, the break-in, the community service at the retreat? Simon and the discovery of the baseball cards, the missing baseball, his relationship with Ben, Ben’s help, the fact that Russell had confessed to Joe? The return from the retreat, the bus accident, Simon and his energy, saving the children? His going to hospital – and his dying? Memories of Simon as a hero?
5. Critics and their comment that the fate of the disabled child was only to die for the sake of ‘normal’ children?
6. Rebecca, her love for Joe, her place in the house and the town, her reputation, her not revealing who Joe’s father was? Her relationship with Ben, his being the drama teacher, his clowning around, the armadillo? Rebecca and her care for Simon instead of his parents? At the baseball match, the shock of her sudden death?
7. Ben, drama, his friendliness towards Joe and Simon? His courting Rebecca, his grief at her death? The Nativity play? His helping Simon and Joe after the revelation that Reverend Russell was the father?
8. Reverend Russell, his place in the town, the pastor, at the church, Sunday school, his attitude towards Simon, his being aggravated by Simon’s sense of destiny and providence? Instrument of God? Reverend Russell and the play, his anger at Simon? The community service? The retreat, his banning Simon from the retreat? His telling the truth to Joe?
9. Ben, surrogate father, friendship with Simon and Joe, courting Rebecca? The adoption of Joe at the end? A good surrogate father?
10. The people in the town, Rebecca’s mother, her influence on Rebecca? The portrait of Simon’s parents and their neglect? The swimming coach and his office, his being the suspect? The other people at the church, at the school?
11. The framing of the screenplay, the adaptation from John Irving’s stories? Jim Carrey as the older Joe, his reminiscences?
