Product Description

Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 08/30/2005 Run time: 105 minutes Rating: Pg

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47896 in DVD
• Brand: Lions Gate
• Released on: 2003-04-22
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Amazon.com
Fans of film adaptations of Truman Capote's original fiction will delight in the familiar terrain of Southern nostalgia and wide-eyed yearning that defines Children on Their Birthdays. Based on a Capote story, this 2002 feature stars Joe Pichler as Billy Bob, a boy whose post-World War II horizons broaden considerably with the arrival of Lilly Jane (Tania Raymonde), a glistening idealist and would-be Hollywood starlet, in his Medda, Alabama, neighborhood. So exotic, erudite, and almost recklessly expansive is Lilly Jane that she lights a fire of progressive thought (or perhaps truer courtesy) in the habitually racist community, inspiring Billy Bob to outgrow his narrow boyhood. Typical of Capote, there is something of the Dying Swan about Lilly Jane, but her Mystery is genuine and affecting. Playwright Mark Medoff directs with conviction but little skill; the film is saved by pure heart and a solid cast, including Sheryl Lee and Christopher McDonald. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

The unknown movie
Of course I heard about this movie because of the title song "I have to dream" which is sung by Celine. A beautiful song it is brings contrast to a wonderful protrayal of characters in this movie.

I bought the movie despite it did not fair well in the box office, which I feel is due to limited showings. Anyway the main character, Lilly Jane is hilarious. This was a pleasant and family oriented movie that adults and children can enjoy. A great movie to watch over holidays or days that children have to stay indoors. Give the movie a viewing. I think it is needed in this day of violent, sex, and objectional material placed in front of innocent children.

THIS MOVIE IS AMAZING!
I was walking through the movie rental place as usual not able to find one that sounded the least bit entertaining to me and then this one caught my eye. At first I looked just because the little girl on the front (Lily Jane) was really pretty. Then I read the back of the video and it sounded really good. Lily Jane (the main girl in the movie) is a little strange but she brings the whole movie together. And the little boy (Billy Bob) was the sweetest guy ever!!!!!! This is the most amazing movie and I really recommend it for anyone who is looking for something entertaining.

Fantastic Family Film
I never heard ANYTHING at all about this movie which my husband brought home from a clearance rack. It turned out to be the BEST film I have seen in the past year!! The dialogue was realistic and masterfully done, with a terrific cast of child actors, and wonderful direction that reminded me of "The Wonder Years" television show, all topped of with the beautiful voice of Celine Dion's music enhancing the movie. The movie was funny, engaging, moving , and full of substance as it delt with truly valuable issues and lessons in life through the unfolding of the story in a non-didactic but enjoyable manner.(Such as capacity for some to grow and change,fear of change and the unknown, particularlly when in comes to racism, and reparation for wrongs.) This is a family film that is not to be missed, although I do think it is suitable for children ages 8 and up as younger children wouldn't understand or apprechiate its content. (There is however nothing OBJECTIONABLE for younger kids) I do happen to agree that one reason that this was not a box office hit is because of the casting of the main character. Although she is a remarkably talented actress and I personally loved her execution of every line of her role, both my husband, and my son independently stated that they found the supporting actresses to be MUCH more physically attractive than her. For them, despite all the issues of SUBSTANCE in the film, that one cosmetic fact did affect the credibility of all the town boys having the big crush on the lead character (when they found the other girls to be so much cuter!) Considering the typical shallowness of what sells in theaters, this movie didn't meet that criteria of having a convincingly georgous leading girl whose trailers alone will bring people to the box office. If people HAD heard of this movie and had it gotten ANY media attention, it would undoubtedly have been a huge hit!