Rich Kids (1979)

Rich Kids Poster

Two 12-year-olds, the products of Upper West Side broken homes, struggle to make sense of their parents lives and their own adolescent feelings.

Intro
"Rich Kids" is a coming-of-age drama film released in 1979, directed by Robert M. Young, composed by Judith Ross and produced by David Picker. The film, set in New York City and shot in Manhattan's East Side, explores the lives of two 12-year-old lead characters, Jamie Harris and Franny Philips, handling their moms and dads' divorces and their individual navigation through that truth.

Plot
Jamie Harris, played by Jeremy Levy and Franny Philips, portrayed by Trini Alvarado, are 2 kids from rich households in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The movie opens by presenting the audience to the dissolving marriages of the kids' parents, which results in chaos in their young lives. Tracey, Franny's mom (Kathryn Walker), and Ralph, Jamie's daddy (John Lithgow), are both undertaking brand-new relationships and divorce procedures.

The young duo, feeling neglected in the middle of the drama of the adult world, find convenience and friendship in each other. Understanding the psychological toll of divorce, they choose to experience marital relationship themselves. The plan is to enjoy its more enjoyable elements while preventing the inescapable mistakes; their variation includes a nightlong pajama party at Franny's vacant townhouse without their parents' understanding.

Efficiency
Both Levy and Alvarado provide remarkable performances, showcasing the confusion, frustration, and anxiety that typically accompany all children exposed to their parents' marital problems. Similarly significant are the performances of Lithgow and Walker who convey the adult point of view of these heart-wrenching circumstances convincingly.

Crucial Interpretation
"Rich Kids" is a film that succeeds in showing the battles kids deal with when their moms and dads separate, a bold topic for its 1979 release. While the two rich kids seem to have everything they could ever desire - limitless charge card, pricey toys, and luxurious houses, they are inevitably unshielded from life's plain truths. The movie provides the harsh reality that wealth can not discharge or protect against psychological discomfort and life's unpredictability.

Significantly, the movie likewise counters the stereotype often provided in media that children from rich backgrounds have no problems to come to grips with, underlying that monetary status does not relate to happiness.

Strengths and Weaknesses
While "Rich Kids" has been well-reviewed for its brave and honest storytelling, it has been criticized for its lack of resolution. Some critics felt that Ross's movie script frequently minimized heavy, emotional moments into short, childish simplicity. The film's main strength is the mentally driven efficiencies from its young actors and the well-crafted dialogue that offers an authentic depiction of how kids react to difficult adult situations.

Conclusion
"Rich Kids" is a powerful exploration of children reacting to their parents' divorces, marking the plain departure from conventional, comforting narratives. In spite of its relatively light-hearted small talk and antics, the movie provides a heavy storyline. It explicitly communicates that children, no matter their abundance, are not protected from emotional trauma that features their moms and dads' divorce. And it strengthens the concept that wealth and materialism can not change the psychological stability of a healthy family environment.

Top Cast

  • Trini Alvarado (small)
    Trini Alvarado
    Franny Philips
  • Jeremy Levy
    Jamie Harris
  • Kathryn Walker (small)
    Kathryn Walker
    Madeline Philips
  • John Lithgow (small)
    John Lithgow
    Paul Philips
  • Terry Kiser (small)
    Terry Kiser
    Ralph Harris
  • David Selby (small)
    David Selby
    Steve Sloan
  • Roberta Maxwell (small)
    Roberta Maxwell
    Barbara Peterfreund
  • Paul Dooley (small)
    Paul Dooley
    Simon Peterfreund
  • Irene Worth (small)
    Irene Worth
    Madeline's Mother
  • Diane Stilwell
    Stewardess
  • Dianne Kirksey
    Ralph's Secretary