Ronald’s mother, May, shows her son compassion, but hers is a naïve love. And yet it is, though frustrating, fiercely protective against the vociferous attacks on her son by Larry, who makes it his mission to humiliate and publicly ridicule Ronald.

Field’s impressive adaptation of Perrotta’s novel (Perrotta and Field co-wrote the screenplay) retains the biting satire early in the story, and the growing insecurities that lead several characters to a climactic rendezvous at the same playground where Brad and Sarah first met. The film alters the book’s conclusion, giving Ronald a different comeuppance and spelling out a moral equivalency among the characters that would better be left open to interpretation.

The conclusion also includes multiple apologies for wrongs committed, but forgiveness is another matter. It’s not clear that Field and Perrotta are interested in forgiveness as much as they are in insisting that we’re all moral failures. Nevertheless, this recognition of weakness is not the same as acceptance, and the film’s hope-filled final words make clear that transformation may await these characters – or already may be under way.

“Little Children” is the first movie of the fall to lay claim to awards consideration. The acting, from the leads as well as the supporting players, is impeccable. Field’s direction is visually spot-on, especially in depicting female isolation and macho male bonding. However, the film includes explicit sexuality, images of online pornography and episodes of sexual disorder that go further than needed.

Field may want to confront us with the raw realities of these behaviors. If so, he succeeded, but to what end? Anyone familiar with Scripture already understands the depths to which created beings can sink. It’s the renewing power of godliness that re-creates us. “Little Children” dives into the former, but barely even hints at the latter. Viewers are advised to proceed with extreme caution. There are rewards here, but a price to pay in acquiring them.

AUDIENCE:  Adults only

CAUTIONS:

• Language/Profanity:  Lord’s name taken in vain; multiple four-letter words; a woman is referred to as a goddess
• Drugs/Alcohol:  Bar scenes
• Sex/Nudity:  Explicit sex scenes, with nudity; passionate kissing; a woman speaks of others’ fantasy lives; a woman wears a revealing bathing suit; online pornography; scenes of implied masturbation; brief references to transvestites, anonymous gay sex, and anal sex; a man sniffs a pair of panties
• Violence:  A young child strikes her mother; a young boy recounts hearing about his father’s death in combat; a police officer is accused of shooting an innocent boy; tackle football, without any pads; a frail woman gasps for breath after a run-in with a bully; multiple verbal and visual references to castration; a man cuts his finger with a knife
  

Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema