CrissCross (1992)

CrissCross Poster

Set in 1969, a twelve-year-old grows up in Key West with his mother, who is paying the bills by stripping at the local topless bar. The boy finds out about her activities and tries to convince her to stop, to no avail. A local restaurant owner hires him to collect fish from a boat out in the bay, and the boy discovers that the restaurant owner is using the fish to bring drugs in to shore. He steals one load and goes about selling it so his mother can afford to quit her job.

Film Summary
"CrissCross" is an American drama film launched in 1992, directed by Chris Menges, starring Goldie Hawn and David Arnott, with a movie script adapted by Scott Sommer from his own novel "CrissCross". The movie is embeded in Key West, Florida in the year 1969, versus the background of the Vietnam War, focusing on the complex relationship in between a single mom and her young boy.

Plot Synopsis
The film informs the story of Tracy Cross (Goldie Hawn), a former club stripper trying to offer a much better life for both herself and her preteen kid, Chris Cross (David Arnott). Chris is struggling amidst difficult circumstances, such as financial challenge and public opinions. He usually endeavors scavenging for lobsters to add to their minimal income. At the same time, he's handling the routine turmoils of teenage years, including experiencing his puppy love.

Main Characters
The character Tracy Cross, represented by Goldie Hawn, is a desperate, dedicated female who, after losing her task as a waitress remains unfazed and attempts numerous jobs to protect a secure future for her kid. The character Chris Cross played by Arnott, evolves throughout the film, managing adolescence and the severe realities of life. He reveals terrific duty for a child of his age, scavenging for lobsters and offering them to support his household, yet casually finding the sensations of love and betrayal.

Background and Setting
"CrissCross" is set throughout the Vietnam War, which basically shapes and forms the background texture of the narrative. The war stands as a continuous suggestion of prospective fate for boys like Chris. Also, the unique atmospheric setting of Key West significantly contrasts against the strife taking place in other places, producing an unsettling harmony.

Themes and Messages
"CrissCross", in its essence, is a movie about life's trials and tribulations. It highlights the struggle of a single mother intending to raise her child in a society filled with challenge and unpredictability. Tracy takes desperate measures to guarantee a better future for Chris, which often causes doubtful decisions. The movie likewise illustrates the maturing story of Chris, concentrating on his experiences of early love and introduction to the full-grown world.

The motion picture includes significant themes like poverty, teenage years, maternal love, and war. Regardless of its severe undertones, it still keeps a thread of hope, endurance, ready to compromise, and survival instinct throughout its story.

Vital Reception
Upon its release, the movie received mixed evaluations from critics. Some praised the efficiencies and the environment stimulated by the special Key West setting, while others felt that the depiction of the mother-son relationship lacked depth. The movie is nonetheless, recognized for its earnest representation of a having a hard time single parent and the difficulties of a young boy browsing life in an era of uncertainty.

In conclusion, "CrissCross" is a poignant drama including limpid minutes that stress on survival instinct in harsh conditions and the universal bond between a mom and her child. The film efficiently integrates components of a coming of age story with a period drama, set against the background of the Vietnam War.

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