Based on AE Hotchner's memoirs of his childhood in St Louis during the Depression, this is a tale of seemingly insurmountable bad luck that befalls the 12-year-old Aaron Kurlander (Jesse Bradford). His little brother is sent away to stay with relatives, his mother (Lisa Eichhorn) is forced to go into a sanatorium, and his father (Jeroen Krabbe), in desperation, takes a sales job in another state. This leaves young Aaron very much alone in a crummy hotel, where all of the guests are steadily being evicted as the depression really starts to bite. It's never in any doubt that Jesse is a resourceful kid, and moments of pathos are counterbalanced with humour that's born of Aaron's inherent resilience. A talented supporting cast vividly paints this finely layered town of characters who crumble before Aaron. He's determined not to be sucked under, and never gives up trying to create his own luck in a town that has all but run out of it.

Country: US    Genre: Drama    Released: 1993   
Rating: PG    Format: (WS)