Spielberg Revisits His Origins in THE FABELMANS

 

Director Steven Spielberg has frequently imbued his films with aspects of his early life, whether it be the fractured family in E.T., the tribute to his father in Saving Private Ryan, or his Jewish background in Schindler’s List.  He fully reconnects with his past in The Fabelmans, an earnest, heartfelt remembrance of his youth and the events that came to shape arguably the greatest film director of his generation.

In 1952 in New Jersey, the Fabelmans are a middle class, Jewish family whose young son, Sam, is so affected by The Greatest Show on Earth that he begins a lifelong passion of making movies.  Sam's parents are stark contrasts as his free-spirited mom, Mitzi (Michelle Williams), loves the arts and encourages her son’s creativity while pragmatic dad, Burt (Paul Dano), is an engineer, whose jobs relocate the family to the west coast.  As a high schooler, Sam (Gabriel LaBelle) is a victim of racism and bullying while also discovering love. As his filmmaking career beckons, his parents’ marital strife threatens to tear the family apart.

It must have been painful yet cathartic for Spielberg to relive his early years (via Sam), but what shines through is his parents’ unwavering love and sacrifice and how filmmaking served as his emotional refuge.  There are poignant and funny moments, but the film never falls into sentimentality.

Williams and Dano are outstanding with great support from Seth Rogan and Judd Hirsch.  In a film filled with movie inspirations and Easter eggs, the final scene (featuring a memorable turn by David Lynch) is truly prescient with Sam at the brink of his film career.  This loving tribute to his parents leaves you with a sense of empathy and understanding of Spielberg’s touchstones.  

**** of **** stars (For movie lovers everywhere)