Film Review: Excellent ‘Little Men’ Exposes Humanity Disrupted

Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 6, 2016 - 3:31pm

CHICAGO – Deep down, because of our profound connection to what makes us human, we attempt to interpret the doing of the right thing. But in a society of property, somebody lives on it and somebody is run off it. This theme, combined with an adolescent friendship, emerge in “Little Men.”

Rating: 4.5/5.0

This film is the seventh directed by Ira Sachs, who has such a delicate touch with his human stories. The way he brings these characters to life – with co-writer Mauricio Zacharias – is different than any contemporary director. He has a realization on how human beings tick, what thrills and disappoints them, and he is able to guide them through that arc in often symbolic stories. “Little Men” seems like a simple tale of impending gentrification in Brooklyn, but it really becomes a struggle between father and son, each going through profound life transitions. The films of Ira Sachs generate empathy – both for the audience and from the players in the screenplays – and target the implications of living within those understandings.

Brian (Greg Kinnear) moves to Brooklyn from Manhattan, with his wife Kathy (Jennifer Ehle) and son Jake (Theo Taplitz). Brian’s father has died, and has left him a building in the borough, which has an attached dress shop run by Leonor (Paulina García). The new owner finds out that the dressmaker has been paying minimal rent, and is forced to triple it, which is still below the market value of the burgeoning neighborhood.

In the meantime Jake has met Tony (Michael Barbieri), a brash drama student who happens to be Leonor’s son. Their friendship develops to brotherhood, which throws a wrench into the negotiations that Brian and Leonor are going through. The adults are spoiling the connection between the teenagers, and the father and son in the middle must come to terms with what is breaking. 

”Little Men” opened in Chicago on September 2nd. Featuring Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Alfred Molina, Talia Balsam, Paulina García, Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz. Written by Ira Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias. Directed by Ira Sachs. Rated “PG”