Misunderstood
Movie Info:
‘Misunderstood’ is an American drama film released in 1984 and directed by Jerry Schatzberg. It is a film adaptation of Florence Montgomery’s 1869 novel of the same name. The film deals with themes of loss of family and son-father relations.
Synopsis
The events of the film take place in Tunisia where an American ship owner, Ned Rawley, lives with his two sons, Andrew and Miles. After the death of their mother, Ned becomes cold, immersing himself in work and neglecting his sons’ grief. The older son Andrew begins to suffer from the absence of father’s love, while little Miles thinks his mother is just on a long trip because he has not yet accepted that she has died. The plot examines the family’s psychology as members try to cope with their loss in their own ways and gradually try to reunite.
Cast & Crew- Director: Jerry Schatzberg – **Producer**: Tarak Ben Ammar – Screenplay: Barra Grant – Music: Michael Hoppé – Cinematography: Pasqualino De Santis – Editing: Marc Laub Main Cast: – Gene Hackman as Ned Rawley – Henry Thomas as Andrew Rawley – Huckleberry Fox as Miles Rawley – Rip Torn as Will – Susan Anspach as Lilly Rawley Production Notes Michael Caine was originally earmarked for the part of Ned Rawley. The film was shot in Tunisia instead of New Zealand because producer Tarak Ben Ammar persuaded the director to do so. Creative disputes resulted in the existence of two endings; director Schatzberg wanted it cut tragic whilst Ben Ammar preferred an optimistic tone, which led to much footage being cut and Susan Anspach’s character being downsized. **Release and Reception** Released on December 10, 1983 in Japan, and on March 30, 1984 in the United States, “Misunderstood” had about $10 million in its budget yet grossed merely $1.5 million in its domestic run, making it a box office fail. **Critical Reception** The reviews for the film were moderate, with many praising the performance of actors such as Gene Hackman and Henry Thomas while some critiqued that the storyline was shallow. It has a fair rating on IMDb. Availability The film “Misunderstood” can be streamed from several platforms.
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Cultural Significance
It is the film’s deep representation of sorrow and the struggles of having to be alone as a single parent that demonstrates the zeal of the story throughout its family oriented intricacies.
In the meantime, here’s the official trailer of the movie for a sneak preview:
“Misunderstood” emerges as an insightful narrative about the complexities of family relationships and lasting consequences of bereavement.