Little Man Tate (1991)

Director:

Jodie Foster

Writer (WGA):

Scott Frank (written by)

Release Date:

11 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

It's not what he knows. It's what he understands.

Plot:

Dede is a sole parent trying to bring up her son Fred. When it is discovered that Fred is a genius,...

Plot Keywords:

Gifted | Mini Van | Hospital | Obscene Finger Gesture | Directorial Debut

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jodie Foster	...	Dede Tate
Dianne Wiest	...	Jane Grierson
Adam Hann-Byrd	...	Fred Tate
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Eddie
David Hyde Pierce	...	Garth Emmerick (as David Pierce)
Debi Mazar	...	Gina
P.J. Ochlan	...	Damon Wells
Alex Lee	...	Fred Tate at 2
Michael Shulman	...	Matt Montini
Nathan Lee	...	Matt's Teammate
Celia Weston	...	Miss Nimvel
Danitra Vance	...	Clinic Doctor
Richard Fredette	...	Bartender
George Plimpton	...	Winston F. Buckner
Jennifer Trier	...	Grierson Institute Teacher

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1994) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Jodie Foster's directorial film debut.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During a short part of Fred's piano piece, the notes he is hitting are obviously different to the ones that would be needed to make the sound. There is a part where the music is going down, but Fred's hands are moving up the keyboard.

Quotes:

Damon: You see, Fred, it isn't the size of a guy's IQ that matters. It's how he uses it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: I'm OK, You're OK (#6.17)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Brahms' Liebesliederwalzer

an amazing perspective

This movie is obviously what one would call "labour of love". It's a pleasure to watch. The story shows beautifully what a thousand articles on math prodigies cannot- that even geniuses need love and that no matter how "genius" that child is he is still only a kid.

She brings out the subtleties of her character. Fred seems adult-like in a child's world and yet deals with child-like simplicity in an adult's world. Jane is the headmistress of a school for the gifted, who believes that her theories on child-prodigies can bring out Fred's best talents, but forgets that Fred's best is not in his head but in his heart. Working to give her child the best yet fierce-fully protective of Fred is his mother Dede. This movie perfectly capture the heartbreaking events that can happen when a child is given too much attention but no affection. Hats off to Adam Byrd who gives a very nuanced performance. Both Jodie Foster and Nancy show the little personality clashes very well. Jodie foster has done a great job when she shows Dede's reaction and then later Jane's reaction to the fact that Fred has had a nightmare.I hope to be able to see more movies from her.