LITTLE CHILDREN

Suburbanites struggle to keep their childhood tendencies at bay in the drama LITTLE CHILDREN. Kate Winslet is full-time mom, and part-time writer, Sarah Pierce. Sarah and her daughter Lucy travel to the park regularly for lunch and play time, and are often joined by a group of other mothers and children. Brad, played by Patrick Wilson, is a stay-at-home dad who takes his son Aaron to the park on occasion, and has the group of women very interested. On a bet from the other mothers, Sarah approaches Brad for his phone number, and gets a whole lot more. In addition to Sarah and Brad’s relationship, the neighborhood remains unsteady upon the arrival of child predator Ronnie McGarvey, played by Jackie Earle Haley.

"Growing up is hard to do" is the mantra for this original, compelling and thoughtful picture from writer-director Todd Field. Field’s uncompromising, yet delicate filmmaking shines through with a script that understands that all adults retain certain childlike qualities, and not often the most admirable ones. LITTLE CHILDREN is framed like a storybook, initially outlining the characters in simple terms, before revealing a more complex and humanistic point of view. Fairytale narration aids in underlying the inherit adolescence that each character is challenged by. Despite the film’s strong direction and writing, LITTLE CHILDREN succeeds in large part due to the talented ensemble cast. Winslet and Wilson both provide likable, intelligent and flawed characters, who cast their inhibitions, and better judgment aside, for a relationship that appears to be more an escape than love. Haley and character-actor Noah Emmerich are also strong, as two distinctly objectionable men, turning in two emphatic performances. LITTLE CHILDREN proves that maturity is a lifelong struggle.

Grade: A