Little Men film review ★★★★★

With Little Men, director Ira Sachs delivers a heart-warming story about friendship, love, family, financial struggles, the contrast between childhood and adulthood, and the complexity of life.

The film begins by introducing Jacob, an introverted, socially awkward boy who shows a passion for art. Following the death of his grandfather, Jacob moves with his parents from Manhattan to the flat they've inherited in Brooklyn, and rapidly becomes friends with local boy Antonio. This newly-formed friendship is then put to the test by a lease dispute between the boys' respective parents (Antonio's mother owns a shop under the Jacob's family flat). It's through this disagreement that the adults descend to childlike behaviour that stands in stark contrast to the children’s own reaction.

Young actors Theo Taplitz (playing Jacob) and Michael Barbieri (playing Antonio) shine, their performances bringing light and humour to the situation, their complicity obvious despite differences in terms of upbringing and personality. Through their eyes we experience the troubles of teen life: fitting in with their peers, first crushes, and life aspirations.

Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Ehle do solid work as Jacob’s parents, ably dramatising the difficulties of bringing up a child whilst dealing with their own conflicts. Their relationship is the vehicle for Sachs to explore themes of change, from shifting gender roles in modern society to one's adjusment to new environments and social relations. As Ehle's character says, ‘life is all about being adaptable’. No one can predict what the future holds, something only reaffirmed by an ending that might seem perplexing and abrupt.

Ultimately, Sachs manages to make his story both touching and humorous, portraying with complexity a child’s perspective of adult problems and the unexpected turns in life.