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LITTLE GIRL GROWING UP: MAN ON THE MOON, MY GIRL

© Sean Gallagher

Given the fact that movie executives, for the most part, seem to be overgrown boys who have gotten older instead of growing up, it should be no surprise that most movies they approve of are ones that speak to their boyish mindset - either sentimental stories about what it means to be a man or a boy, or violent wish-fulfillment fantasies. It's also not surprising that movies about girls trying to grow up are anathema to them. After all, girls mature faster than boys, and in a society where we're intent on driving the sexes apart, we're taught to distrust maturity, or fear it. And while girls growing up also speaks to us about sexuality, and boys can be very interested in that, we're taught to mistrust and fear that too. I've long been of the opinion that the difference between the sexes, in general and in popular culture, is overrated, and worry about movies, music, TV shows, etc. that work to drive them apart rather than bring them together. Having said that, there's no denying a girl's coming of age is quite different than a boy's, and it's too bad movies don't tap into that too often. Surprisingly, in 1991, there were two films that did; Robert Mulligan's THE MAN IN THE MOON, and Howard Zieff's MY GIRL. By coincidence, both were directed by men and written by women, and both are period pieces.

Mulligan's tale, written by Jenny Wingfield, takes place in 1950's Louisiana, and is told from the point of view of Dani (Reese Witherspoon), a 14 year old girl who lives on a farm with her parents Matthew (Sam Waterston) and Abigail (Tess Harper), and older sister Maureen (Emily Warfield), who's 17 (there's also another baby sister, I think). Abigail is pregnant, Maureen is preparing to go to college, and Matthew, though he loves his family, is somewhat strict. It's no wonder that Dani, though she of course loves her family and often confides in her sister, is chomping at the bit. She's impatient about doing household chores, idolizes Elvis, and is never happier than when she's swimming in the creek that's by an abandoned farm.

One night, she sneaks out of her house to go swimming, and is shocked when Court (Jason London), a 17 year old boy, jumps in as well. They get into a shouting match, where they both claim the creek is theirs, and then leave. Turns out Court is the son of Marie (Gail Strickland), an old friend of Matthew and Abigail's who's come back to the farm to try and work it with Court and his two twin brothers after her husband died. At the dinner, Dani is of course surprised by by Court's being there, then petulant about it. But when Court has to drive into town to pick up something, and Dani has to go with him to show him the way, you can see her charmed by him. It's no surprise to us, therefore, when Dani chucks away the Elvis posters and not only starts helping out with chores, but doing so with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She's got a crush on Court.

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