Synopsis
This semi-autobiographical film by Barry Levinson follows various members of the Kurtzman clan, a Jewish family living in suburban Baltimore during the 1950s. As teenaged Ben completes high school, he falls for Sylvia, a black classmate, creating inevitable tensions. Meanwhile, Ben's brother, Van, attends college and becomes smitten with a mysterious woman while their father tries to maintain his burlesque business.
Ratings
IMDb7/10
Rotten Tomatoes86%
Metacritic75/100
81 audience votes
Key crew
- Barry LevinsonDirector
- Barry LevinsonWriter
- Andrea MorriconeOriginal Music Composer
Cast
- Adrien BrodyVan Kurtzman
- Ben FosterBen Kurtzman
- Orlando JonesLittle Melvin
- Bebe NeuwirthAda Kurtzman
- Joe MantegnaNate Kurtzman
- David KrumholtzYussel
- Rebekah JohnsonSylvia
- Richard KlineCharlie, Nate's Assistant
- Vincent GuastaferroPete, Nate's Assistant
- Justin ChambersTrey Tobelseted
- Carolyn MurphyDubbie the Blonde
- James Pickens Jr.Sylvia's Father
Stills
Themes
high schooljewish lifebaltimore, usacoming of ageantisemitisminterracial relationshipracismwaspsemi autobiographicaljewish family1950s