Remember that speciaI growing-up year in your life? When you had your first reaI adventure, discovered love, faced an enemy, withstood the death of a loved one, stood up for a principIe, backed a friend? Maybe, like Newt Winger's growing-up year, it was all of them.
A personal triumph for director-producer-writer-composer Gordon Parks (adapting his noveI), The Learning Tree traces one watershed year in the life of young Newt (Kyle Johnson), in which he learns about Iove, fear, vioIent raciaI injustice and, during an emotionaI murder triaI, his own capacity for honor. "Most important of aIl," Parks said, "he learns that hating is a waste of vaIuabIe energy." Poignant, passionate and powerful, The Learning Tree wilI make you smile, break your heart and heal your spirit. |