The Man in the Moon (1991)

_**Two sisters growing up in the Deep South in the late 50s**_ During the summer of ’57 in rural Louisiana a 14 year-old girl (Reese Witherspoon) and her older sister (Emily Warfield) maneuver through the challenges of family, boys, responsibilities and more. Sam Waterston and Tess Harper play the parents while Jason London appears as a new neighbor that attracts the attention of the younger sibling. “The Man in the Moon” (1991) is a coming-of-age drama in the South in the mold of “Ode to Billy Joe” (1976), “The Great Santini” (1979), “My Girl” (1991), “Lawn Dogs” (1997) and “Simon Birch” (1998). It’s as good, or better, than the best of those. Reese was 14 at the time of shooting and this was her feature film debut. The movie’s full of gems relating to relationships, spirituality, tragedies, forgiveness and growth. ’Nuff said. The film runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in the heart of Louisiana: Natchitoches (the Trant house), Kisatchie (the swimming hole), Robeline (church scene), Chousatta (dance scene) and Many (store scene). GRADE: A-