Meu Filho, Meu Filho

Contrived and sappy story, which is also difficult to understand. Mom dies. Dad can't fill her shoes... and nothing else after that. Hackman fills the father role with as much strength as he can muster with the lifeless script provided for him. Youngsters Thomas and Fox are engaging in the film through the poignant relationship they create.

This is one of the rare American re-makes of a foreign movie I have ever seen that I can really appreciate! I should have expected as much with the cast including Gene Hackman, Henry Thomas & Huckleberry Fox! Of course the acting is GREAT, but SURPRISE! -->> The story is almost identical to the original Italian "Incompreso".

Some new material is introduced & some of the original is excluded! I can't tell the new material (without spoiling the movie), but to all who have seen "Incompreso", the worst exclusion (and it hurts) is the tear jerking camera scene. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes touching movies.

'Misunderstood' is an adaptation of a novel by Florence Montgomery but most of all a remake of Luigi Comencini's masterpiece 'Incompreso'.

This review is destined to evaluate 'Misunderstood', so here it goes. It's certainly not a bad movie if judged without comparing to the original. However, when compared to the original, it seems artificial in many aspects. The gorgeous Italy is replaced by Tunisia (in North Africa), the settings look unnatural and unrefined, the house looks crude, the scenes seem forced and lack authenticity, the actors lack emotion in their roles (including Henry Thomas, who was brilliant in 'E.T.'), many detailed scenes were removed or modified and there are additional scenes that don't quite fit in the plot. Not even the uncle saves the movie. Here the uncle is a very serious man who rarely laughs, he has nothing to do with the playful uncle from the original.

The ending feels somewhat vague comparing to the original and far less emotional too but also leaves you wondering if Andrew survives or not. It ends suddenly and we never really get to know the answer to this question.

Gene Hackman is okay but nowhere near as good as Anthony Quayle. Huckleberry Fox is adorable but not in the same league as the kid of the original. Same for Henry Thomas in comparison to the boy of the original.

I went to see this movie with my Dad 3 times with in one month in 1984 Bangkok, Thailand. The theater gave Moviegoers starch handkerchiefs as free gifts. At first time, I have no my own. I have to used it. It is really hurtful. When I get out of the theater, I almost could not open my eyes, have to hold my dad hand and hide my face to his arm. I hear giggling then glance at woman face with red eyes and nose. She is laughing with her friend, complaining how hard the handkerchief is.

The misunderstood is a very good family movie. My dad and I got good feeling from this movie. After that we never misunderstand to each other because this movie tell us that we have to talk and listen to each other, forgive and forget. Only love is not enough. We have to understand each other and believe in our love and bond.

This movie should be shown again all theaters around the world and nominated for academy award 2009.

Like many others out there, I too saw this film as a young university freshman and it left an indelible mark on me. The story, the acting, the cinematography, and the beautiful music score all contribute to an extremely well-crafted emotional drama. Andrew is a young boy, who, like his younger brother Miles, suffers from the loss of their mother. Only difference is, Miles has the affection and attention of his father while Andrew is left to cope alone with his feelings as the older brother. Even if you are not going through a period of sadness in your life, I fully recommend this movie as a powerful catharsis in dealing with pent-up emotions, especially grief. The father (well played by G. Hackman) is far from being a tyrannical despot, and his behavior reminds us that to be of help to others, one must first see her/his own pain.