Little Children (2006)

The lives of two lovelorn spouses from separate marriages, a registered sex offender, and a disgraced ex-police officer intersect as they struggle to resist their vulnerabilities and temptations in suburban Connecticut.

Director:

Todd Field

Writers:

Todd Field (screenplay), Tom Perrotta (screenplay),

Stars:

Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 39 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Winslet	...	Sarah Pierce
Jennifer Connelly	...	Kathy Adamson
Patrick Wilson	...	Brad Adamson
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Ronnie J. McGorvey
Noah Emmerich	...	Larry Hedges
Gregg Edelman	...	Richard Pierce
Phyllis Somerville	...	May McGorvey
Raymond J. Barry	...	Bullhorn Bob
Jane Adams	...	Sheila
Ty Simpkins	...	Aaron Adamson
Sadie Goldstein	...	Lucy Pierce
Helen Carey	...	Jean
Sarah Buxton	...	Slutty Kay
Mary B. McCann	...	Mary Ann
Trini Alvarado	...	Theresa

Storyline

Echoes of "Madame Bovary" in the American suburbs. Sarah's in a loveless marriage to an advertising executive, long days with her young daughter at the park and the pool, wanting more. Brad is an immature househusband, married to a flinty documentary filmmaker. Ronnie is just out of prison - two years for indecent exposure to a minor - living with his elderly mother, May; Larry is a retired cop, fixated on driving Ronnie away. Sarah and Brad connect, a respite of adult companionship at the pool. Ronnie and Larry have their demons. Brad should be studying for the bar; Larry misses his job; Ronnie's mom thinks he needs a girlfriend. Sarah longs to refuse to be trapped in an unhappy life. Where can these tangled paths lead?

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Plot Keywords:

sex | sex offender | bar | suburb | dysfunctional marriage | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

18A

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Les enfants de choeur

Filming Locations:

Boothbay Harbor, Maine, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£158,012 (UK) (3 November 2006)

Gross:

$5,459,824 (USA) (6 April 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Bona Fide Productions, Standard Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min 137 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jackie Earle Haley's first movie in 13 years.

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Goofs

When Sarah is running out of the park calling Lucy's name, her cardigan is barely falling off of her shoulders. When she stops and screams Lucy's name, she is shown to her chest and no cardigan is seen. Next shot, she's running to Lucy wearing her cardigan again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lucy Pierce: Want to take a walk with me?

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #18.40 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Battlefield Glory
Written by Tom Hedden
Performed by Tom Hedden
Courtesy of NFL Films

User Reviews

The Future Can Be a Different Story

In the suburbs, the boredom Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet) lives a dull marriage without love with her selfish husband Richard Pierce (Gregg Edelman), who is successful in his career but with awful sexual habits. She spends the mornings with her daughter Lucy (Sadie Goldstein) in the playground observing the behavior of the suburban mothers with their children. When Sarah sees the frisson caused by the handsome "househusband" Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson) in the other women, she decides to talk to him. Brad tells her that he has failed twice in the Bar exams for lawyer and he is financially supported by his wife Kathy (Jennifer Connelly), who is a documentary filmmaker. He omits that Kathy is a woman that gives all her attention to their son Aaron (Ty Simpkins), refusing to have sex with him. Sarah feels trapped in her unhappy life and has an affair with Brad, who is the opposite of Richard, in the afternoons. Meanwhile, the pervert Ronnie J. McGorvey (Jackie Earle Haley), who was in prison for indecent exposure, returns to his mother's house and feels the prejudice of his community against his presence, especially from the retired policeman Larry Hedges (Noah Emmerich) that is trying to force Ronnie to move away from their neighborhood.

"Little Children" is an extremely well-acted movie that uses a modern adaptation of Madame Bovary to the present days in the American suburbs. The boredom condition of Emma Bovary and Sarah Pierce are very similar, both fell trapped in an unhappy marriage, and have love affairs to escape from their boredom. This movie really deserved the nomination to the Oscar in the categories of Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, with Jackie Earle Haley having a top-notch performance in the role of a deranged sick man; Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role to the stunning Kate Winslet, one my favorite and best actress ever – my only remark is that, at least for my eyes and taste, she is a charming and beautiful woman, and apparently Sarah Pierce is a plain woman; and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, to Todd Field and Tom Perrotta that were able to perfectly develop a complex story with entwined lives of many characters in an adequate pace and eroticism. In the end, "Little Children" is one of those unforgettable and highly recommended movies. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Pecados Íntimos" ("Intimate Sins")