The Fabelmans

The Fabelmans Review: Steven Spielberg Celebrates the Enduring Magic of Self-Discovery

In his latest film, The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg explores his own adolescence through a semi-autobiographical lens, chronicling the ups and downs of a young boy's formative years as he discovers his passion for filmmaking. The result is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story that captures the pangs of growing up while celebrating the enduring magic of self-discovery.

Set in the early 1950s to mid-1960s, The Fabelmans follows Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle), a young boy who discovers the power of cinema when his parents, Mitzi and Burt Fabelman (Michelle Williams and Paul Dano), take him to a movie theater in New Jersey to watch Cecil B. DeMille's The Greatest Show on Earth. One particular scene in the movie - a train crashes into a car and then into another train, sending the coaches hurtling off the tracks - scares Sammy out of his wits even as the experience of watching it etches itself indelibly on his impressionable mind. Life is never the same again for the boy.

With his father's Super 8 camera furtively handed to him by his mother, Sammy films the crash of a mechanical toy train at home. His passion grows quickly, and the boy never stops filming even though his computer engineer father dismisses Sammy's fixation as no more than a child's hobby. Burt Fabelman is categorical that movies aren't things that people can use. They are not real, they are imaginary, he says to his son. Sammy's mother thinks otherwise. She is full of admiration for her son's proclivity towards giving his imagination full rein.

Besides telling the story of Sammy's pursuit of his first love, The Fabelmans throws light on the obstacles that the boy faces as a teenager because of his Jewish identity as well as the consequences of his parents' troubled marriage on him and his three younger sisters, one of whom describes the Fabelmans as "an out-of-control, falling-apart family".

As Sammy grows older, he faces increasing challenges, including bullying by anti-Semitic boys twice his size and a shocking truth revealed in his film of a camping trip with his family that leaves a deep wound in his heart and a scar on his back the size of his mother's hand. Having stumbled upon a secret that threatens his relationship with his mom, Sammy vows not to touch a camera again. But when his estranged uncle Boris (Judd Hirsch), a one-time circus lion tamer and a film set hand, pays the Fabelmans a surprise visit, Sammy's passion for filmmaking is reignited.

The Fabelmans is a film that captures the essence of self-discovery, reminding us that sometimes the things that scare us the most are the things that set us free. Spielberg's storytelling is meticulous, and he brings unfailing dexterity to bear upon the orchestration of the varied elements that have gone into this fascinating coming-of-age story that records the ups and downs of the formative phase of an eventful life.

Gabriel LaBelle delivers a standout performance as a troubled teenager whose choices are repeatedly obstructed by hurdles that aren't necessarily of his own making. Michelle Williams is equally impressive, shining brightest in a role that is as crucial to the film as that of the boy who would be a consummate Hollywood gamechanger. With a rating of four stars out of five, The Fabelmans is a must-see film that captures the enduring magic of self-discovery with unflinching honesty and unbridled joy.

Watching Steven Spielberg's growth from a child traumatized by the train crash in THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH to an adolescent filmmaker is a remarkable experience. He is candid about his family issues and his parents' divorce, demonstrating his understanding that adulthood is challenging and that forgiveness is vital.

Despite its 150-minute runtime, the film never feels self-indulgent, thanks in part to the exceptional performances by Michelle Williams as the mother and Paul Dano as the father. The actors' ability to deliver their lines convincingly is half of the Spielberg magic. Moreover, Judd Hirsch's cameo as the profane uncle who was a lion tamer, and David Lynch's appearance as John Ford, add to the film's greatness.

Some of the characters in the film may appear underdeveloped, particularly the sisters. Nonetheless, this serves to highlight the outstanding portrayals of Miss Williams, Dano, and Gabriel LaBelle as the Steven Spielberg character. It's noteworthy that Spielberg and his frequent collaborator, Tony Kühner, have crafted a compelling portrait of a Jewish family in the post-war era, a time when things were supposed to be banal, but in reality, people were living their lives.