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Little Man Tate (1991)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Scott Frank (written by)
Release Date:
11 October 1991 (USA)
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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,...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
Engaging insight into the world of exceptionally gifted children
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Actress Jodie Foster's directorial film debut. When this film was remade in Hindi Taare Zameen Par (2007), coincidently turn out to be Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's directorial debut.
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Goofs:
Continuity: Fred's briefcase strap when he's talking with Eddie.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in 1992 MTV Movie Awards (1992) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Mozart's Piana Quartet In E Flat Major, KV493
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (31 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Little Man Tate (1991)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Who sang the opening song? | satanella |
| Terrible | Yoda101382 |
| What is the point? | thirsch-2 |
| Piano piece played by Fred | ffriedel |
| Filming Locations | Edward-Ringwald |
| Am I stupid or... | filmluvr81 |
Recommendations
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Through the eyes of a exceptionally gifted child of seven, 'Little Man Tate' delivers a riveting insight of the loneliness, maturity, isolation and brilliance of what it is to be highly prodigious yet very young and how imperative it is to achieve a balance when educating and raising such children.
Fred (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a very special little boy. He is able to play complicated musical pieces, pen deep and meaningful poems, calculate complex mathematical problems at an age when his classmates are still learning to tie their shoes and mastering their alphabet. He's a child old before his time, capable of thoughts far beyond the average adult's understanding, but at the core of it all, he is still just a seven-year-old who wants to fit in at school and have friends. His mother Dede, played by Jodie Foster, determines the best way to raise her beloved son is to treat him like any other child to the extent that she never really acknowledges his gifts, whereas Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest) is on the other end of the scale as a psychologist whose speciality is gifted children. Jane takes an interest in Fred, believing his intelligence must be nurtured even if it means plonking a tot of seven into a university full of young adults.
Jodie Foster and Dianne Wiest deliver strong, solid performances as two women who both love this child and just want what is best for him, even if their approaches are very different. However, it is Adam Hann-Byrd who steals the show as the lead character of Fred. He depicts the brilliance of the character as well as his awkwardness in dealing with both 'normal' contemporaries and fellow gifted children. He is wonderful in showing how Fred is just a kid who wants to be liked, and how he desperately needs the adults around him to provide him a balance between being treated like the seven-year-old he is while allowing his towering intellect to thrive.
This film takes us into the heart of what it is to be a child prodigy and how it can be both a gift and a curse. We see Fred surpassing his adult classmates in his university course yet he struggles to interact with peers his own age who are of average intelligence. Through him, it is easy to see that being perceived as 'normal' can be the greatest gift of all. It also highlights the abysmal state of the state education system in teaching such children.
I really recommend this film as it delivers this fascinating story in a manner that is bittersweet, touching and, at times, humorous. The characters are all interesting and likable and you can't help but feel for Fred's joys and woes.