Since the day he sees his first film, where there is a scene of a crash between a car and a train, Sammy is obsessed with filming, first little films with his father’s 8 mm camera, then more significant realisations with his three sisters and friends. Sammy is born in a Jewish family, with his down-to-earth father, Burt, and his frivolous mother, Mitzi. His father sees filming as a hobby, but his mother understands his dream. Whilst putting together a short film of their holidays, he sees that he has caught images of his mother and their ever-present friend, Boris, having an affair. Sammy is distraught and argues with his mother. The family will then move to another town, leaving Boris behind. But Mitzi cannot live without him, and Sammy’s parents end up divorcing. The film ends with Sammy meeting the director John Ford, one of his greatest influences. An autobiographical film, very touching, where emotions are always present and with a witty ending image.
“Guilt is a wasted emotion”