Displaying items by tag: Jacob Laval

THE UNBREAKABLE BOY  

US, 2025, 109 minutes, Colour.

Zachary Levi, Meghann Fahey, Jacob Laval, Drew Powell, Gavin Warren, Patricia Heaton, Todd Terry, Kurt Yue, Peter Facinelli.

Directed by John Gunn.

This film is based on a non-fictional book, The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love," by Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory. And those are the themes.

With the title, this seems to be an emphasis on the boy himself, Austin, autistic, and with a rare brittle bone disease. However, he is a very cheerful child, happy with all those he comes into contact with. He is played with zest by Jacob Laval.

With the title of the book, there is an emphasis on the son’s courage. However, the focus of the film then goes to the parents, as indicated, the father’s fear, love for the boy, and the issue of the stress put on unconditional love within the context of the family. The mother and the brother also have two deal with the boy, the challenge to them. Zachary Levi is the father.

This is obviously a film with the message, a plea for some kind of empathy with the boy and his conditions, some kind of sympathy for the parents, the challenges, the difficulties, their own limitations in dealing with stressful situations.

1. Based on a true story? The photos and information at the end, decades after the story of the film?
2. The Oklahoma setting, Middle America, ordinary citizens, homes, work, debts? Family life? The breakable bones condition of mother and son? Injuries, burdens, hospitalisation, costs? And autism?
3. The narration by Austin, his nickname of Auzman? Age 13, the setting of the New Year’s Eve party, the behaviour of his father, drinking, driving home? The film going into flashback and eventually returning to this sequence?
4. Austin, the tone in verve of his narration, his explanation of his parents, their meeting, characters, the three dates, her pregnancy, her response, Scott’s response, his parents’ response, the upset and harangues by his mother? The birth and the broken ribs? Austin in pain, crying, the parents not knowing? Later discovering the truth? His bones, inherited, and is listing the number of breakages and their situations?
5. Scott and his character, with the character of Joe, his alter ego, always with him, sense of presence, the conversations, his reflection, conscience, and the final joke about his being God? The fact that Scott, despite everything, could have a challenging conscience?
6. Teresa, serving, Scott and the attraction, the talking, the dating, her pregnancy? The gradual revelation of her past, the two marriages and divorces, her alcoholic father, help from her sister? Her breakable bones condition? Love for Scott, the birth, the raising of Austin, discovery about his bones? The tensions between the two, the issue of marriage, the officiating, in a church?
7. Second pregnancy, the birth of Logan, no bone problems, not autistic?
8. Audience appreciation of autism? Austin’s particular type of autism, extroverted and enthusiastic, everything the best? OCD, obsessions, cataloguing his DVDs, his caps, his knowledge, accuracy? His mindset, the way he saw things? The response of his mother, care? The response of his father, not seeing him, the issue of medications, going to the institution for four days after his violent aggressive outburst, his assessment of the four days, his family adapting to him, Logan caring for him?
9. Austin at school, his nickname, exuberance, the issues with Tyler, the bully, friendship? Tyler later bullying Logan, the skateboard, Logan hitting him, the school principal, Logan and his wrapping the gift of the skateboard, the gift, the reconciliation? Austin’s explanation that Tyler was lonely, his hard life and family?
10. The response of the school, cheerful and Austin’s exuberance? His being the mascot of the games, change of moods, his father donning the Tiger’s head, his going out in joining in? The issue of his staying at the school, as help to his learning or not? The discussions with the principal? His returning to the school, the student signing the petition for his return? Returning to be the mascot?
11. The portrait of the married couple, Teresa, the obsession with video games, exasperation with Scott, the episodes, finding it too much, his drinking, ordering him out? The support from the preacher and the church congregation? Her religious motivations? Scott and his leaving, his absence, memories of her marriages and divorces?
12. Scott, his ambitions and hopes, his experience of marriage, fatherhood, his aspirations, drinking, absences? The presence of joke? His going to the AA meetings? The encounter with the preacher, his antipathy towards God, the preacher at the AA meetings? The change in attitude, Teresa pouring out all the alcohol? AA, his becoming sober, his return, the experience of the camp and Austin’s enthusiasm, all the activities with his father? Austin’s vision, flying in the clouds, the kite turning into a creature…?
13. An opportunity for ordinary audiences to reflect on marriage, parenting, problems and challenges, coping with issues? In the background of some faith dimensions?