Misunderstood (1984)

Two young brothers, motherless and now relying on their workaholic father, try becoming closer to their only surviving parent while stationed in Tunisia. Director Jerry Schatzberg, working from an incredibly dull screenplay by Barra Grant, via Florence Montgomery's novel, never shakes the lead out, and the picture seems stillborn as a result. Henry Thomas, one of the most intuitive child actors of this era, doesn't match up well with Gene Hackman; the two are supposed to be estranged, but there's no connection between them at the finale, either. A depressing experience, with the curious location not helping matters. * from ****

I take exception to the person who posted the snarky review that the Mom dies, the dad can't fill her shoes & nothing much else happens. I feel that the pivotal moment of the film is after the boy falls & his dad actually requests his schoolbooks to help him with his essay. The essay goes something like this "My dad is my favorite person he always understands when I'm sad..." The dad reads the essay & the boy explains he can't finish it. The young boy says "You never listen, you never understand." The courage it took for him to actually tell his father that and the courage for the father to actually listen & cry and say he was sorry that's monumental. Any child/adult who's had problems with their parents just melts at that moment. All of the little wounds that this boy must endure build up. This is what makes a childhood. If you're told all of the time you're not important. It really kills your soul.My husband & I watched this & he cried because he misses his own family. I cried because I never really had a family to miss. I don't know which is worse. Being a million miles away from the loving family that you know or growing up never being connected or understood by those in your household? This movie is powerful. If you prefer not to watch movies that make you cry then I don't recommend it. I don't understand why this doesn't come on cable? I had to buy a copy of the VHS tape.

This is a wonderful story about the relationship of a father and his son. It shows the difficulties which a family can face when confronted with a tragedy. Anyone with a feeling for family and love in their heart would enjoy this movie.

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.