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