OK, I admit to being a fan of "made for TV movies", especially the ones that are "based on a true story". Shoot me!
But I found this to be a really good movie. I have vague memories of the event on which this movie was based so it was interesting to see the stories of some of the real people involved. It was NOT a happy movie, where everyone lives happily ever after, though. But then, this wasn't a happy event.
I know that at least some of the story of the Beruman family is true because I recall some of it from the actual news accounts. I'd love to know if the Frank Stewart and Buck Helm characters were real.
SPOILER FOLLOWs
In a made for TV movie it is hard to know for sure what is "dramatization" and what is not. The story of the Beruman family was, at least in part, true because I remember from the actual news accounts the story of cutting his mother's dead body in half to free him from the car. Interstingly enough, in the movie a doctor tells the boy's father after hearing a description of what the mother had on that day, that it was NOT his mom, but her friend. I don't recall if that was ever actually cleared up in the news reports.
To me one of the most upsetting parts of the movie was Buck dying. After the emotional scence with his family waiting to see if the newly found survivor was him and his son jumping up and yelling "My boots! He's wearing my boots. It's him" I was sobbing with relief. For him to die was very upsetting.
But I found this to be a really good movie. I have vague memories of the event on which this movie was based so it was interesting to see the stories of some of the real people involved. It was NOT a happy movie, where everyone lives happily ever after, though. But then, this wasn't a happy event.
I know that at least some of the story of the Beruman family is true because I recall some of it from the actual news accounts. I'd love to know if the Frank Stewart and Buck Helm characters were real.
SPOILER FOLLOWs
In a made for TV movie it is hard to know for sure what is "dramatization" and what is not. The story of the Beruman family was, at least in part, true because I remember from the actual news accounts the story of cutting his mother's dead body in half to free him from the car. Interstingly enough, in the movie a doctor tells the boy's father after hearing a description of what the mother had on that day, that it was NOT his mom, but her friend. I don't recall if that was ever actually cleared up in the news reports.
To me one of the most upsetting parts of the movie was Buck dying. After the emotional scence with his family waiting to see if the newly found survivor was him and his son jumping up and yelling "My boots! He's wearing my boots. It's him" I was sobbing with relief. For him to die was very upsetting.