Details
Movie Description
Seven-year-old genius Fred is desperate to fit in with other kids. Recognizing his talents, his mom (and best friend) Dede enrolls him in a school for gifted children, where Fred befriends a teacher who offers him opportunities his mother cannot. Dede must choose between possibly losing her son or compromising his education.
Synopsis
Fred, a seven-year-old art, music and math prodigy, is ostracized by his classmates who view him as something of a freak. His only companion is his warm-hearted, working-class mom. A single woman raising her son alone, she has neither the money nor the education to nurture her son's gift. Invited to attend a summer college course, Fred goes to live with a child psychologist and teacher who has taken an interest in him. Though the woman is excited by Fred's genius, she is unable to provide him with the loving, emotionally supportive environment he found at home.
Film Notes
Color by DuArt. Prints by Deluxe.
Jodie Foster's directorial debut and the first film produced as part of her multi-picture deal with Orion.
Foster, a child actress who began performing at the age of three, was also raised by her mother, giving "Little Man Tate" obvious autobiographical overtones.
Alban Berg Quartet performed Mozart's "String Quartet Number 21 D Major KV575;" Michel Piquemal and Ensemble Orchestral de Paris performed Brahm's "Liebesliederwalzer, conducted by Armin Jordan;" Jacques Rouvier and the Mozart String Quartet performed "Mozart's Piano Quartet in E Flat Major KV493."
Original soundtrack album on Varese Sarabande.
Began shooting July 11, 1990; completed September 20, 1990. Released in New York City and Los Angeles October 9, 1991; wide release October 18, 1991.
Shown at benefit premieres in Washington, DC, October 2, 1991 and Los Angeles, October 6, 1991 for Invent America! and the United States Library of Congress Education Programs; shown at a benefit premiere in New York, October 3, 1991 for NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League).
Industry Reviews
"...LITTLE MAN TATE is passionately involving, and Foster's directing is as sharply intuitive as her acting..."
Rolling Stone - p.97-99 - Peter Travers
"...A thoughtful first film with an idiosyncratic style that successfully captures a child's memory of one year of his life..."
Sight and Sound - p.51-2 - Lizzie Francke
"...Dianne Wiest is immensely sympathetic....P.J. Ochlan is very funny....Hann-Byrd has the requisite young-old look, and it's believable that he's as bright as the film makes him out to be..."
Los Angeles Times - p.F1 - Peter Rainer
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