Faithful Friday: My Review of Lionsgate’s “The Unbreakable Boy”
By: Debbie Waltz
Every parent dreams of having a happy and healthy baby. Sadly, this doesn’t always happen. It’s in the moments where parents must let go of dreams they once held for their children and begin building new ones. In Lionsgate’s moving film, “The Unbreakable Boy,” we follow the heartwarming and challenging story of Scott Michael Lorette, a father who embarks on a daily journey of acceptance and understanding as he lovingly raises his son, who courageously faces significant disabilities, including brittle bone disease and autism.
Told from Austin’s (played by Jacob Laval) perspective, he tells about his parents’ whirlwind romance and unexpected pregnancy. In a display of responsible behavior, the couple took the next step in their relationship by moving in together, beginning the exciting journey of building a family. Little does Scott know, Teresa (played by Meghann Fahy) has a secret; She has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI Type I). Because of its genetic nature, the condition is heritable and therefore can be passed on to future generations. Granted, her condition is less complicated than most; she has been dealing with this condition all her life and has managed it well with medication. Despite this, Teresa’s bones are still fragile, and she must be extra careful. Scott is not overly concerned; after all, it’s only a slight chance of the gene getting passed on. Besides, that gene is partially responsible for her amazing blue eyes, which attracted him to her. (She hadn’t told him earlier because she feared he would be frightened off.)
Upon Austin’s birth, everything appeared to be proceeding without incident or complication, suggesting a normal and healthy start to his life. Even though the labor progressed naturally, the obstetrician found it necessary to employ forceps to assist in the final moments of delivery. The subsequent months presented Teresa and Scott with a significant adjustment period as they grappled with the responsibilities of parenthood while simultaneously striving to achieve their personal ambitions and maintain a healthy balance in their relationship. While Teresa embraced motherhood instinctively and effortlessly, finding a natural connection with her maternal instincts, Scott grappled with the challenge of achieving a satisfactory equilibrium between his financial responsibilities as the family provider and actively participating in hands-on parenting.
A prime example is when Teresa goes out one afternoon, leaving Scott to babysit. During her absence, Scott becomes engrossed in his work, a focus that is abruptly shattered by the sound of Austin’s cries. Austin’s decision to climb onto a short table led to an unfortunate outcome: a broken leg. It was during that ER visit they discovered Austin inherited OI from mother and that was not his only broken bone. X-ray images showed that Austin suffered fractured ribs as a result of the birth process, a consequence most probably because of the use of forceps during delivery.
Subsequently, Teresa and Scott tried to childproof their apartment. They carefully padded all hard surfaces as a precautionary measure to prevent injuries. While meticulously reviewing a stack of paperwork late one evening, Scott unexpectedly discovered Teresa’s certificate of divorce amongst the documents. She had actually been married, a fact that surprised many. Not once, but twice.
Grappling with the news, he demanded an explanation. She’d explained how she didn’t only 18 at the time and viewed marriage as her only means of escape. Her parents’ incessant arguments and her father’s consistent heavy made for a stressful living environment. Teresa needed a way out. Her first marriage only lasted a few months and she’d been naïve to the ways of the world. However, her second marriage was painful because her husband’s alcoholism mirrored that of her own father, bringing up difficult and intensely personal memories. Why hadn’t she shared all this with him before? In short, she’d thought he’d run. The mention of her diagnosis and its future implications had been enough to scare off boyfriends in the past; they had simply run away before.
It wasn’t only her diagnosis that left her broken. Because of the hardships she endured in her childhood and past failed marriages, she felt she did not deserve the storybook ending that is a common fantasy for girls growing up. Many times she felt more like the ugly stepsister instead of Cinderella.
“I feel cursed,” Teresa argues.
Not another diagnosis
After Teresa shared her revelation, Scott spent the following days reflecting quietly. His career as a medical representative was successful, and with Austin, they were feeling like a family. Why not make it official? Ultimately, that’s the only way to demonstrate his dedication to the relationship and ensure its long-term success.
“I think I might love you.” Scott said one night after following Teresa into the kitchen as she emptied the trash can. (I know this isn’t the most romantic proposal ever. Believe me, she didn’t think so either.) That’s why she said they weren’t ready. But eventually he wore her down. As a family man now, Scott desired a more stable environment for his family. Consequently, they purchased a house in anticipation of their second child. As they settled into their new roles as a family of 4, they noticed distinct differences between their 2 boys. To their relief, Logan was free of the gene and a healthy, curious little boy. On the other, Austin was different. At first, he exhibited an obsession with counting, avoided eye contact, and struggled to concentrate.
“I’m saying I’m worried about him, babe. He won’t stop counting, he constantly. He gets lost in these fantasies. And when I try to connect with him, he just melts down for no reason,” Scott confides in his wife one night, “This was not what I thought it was going to be like, you know.I feel like I’m failing every day and the harder I try, the worse I do. I can’t seem to figure him out.”
“Maybe you’re not supposed to,” Teresa argues
“Come on, T. Something is not right. you’re gonna tell me you’re not worried?”
Testing later revealed Austin had autism.
Learning To Cope
Time passed as the family learned to cope with this new information. Everyone coped with the diagnosis differently; Teresa, for example, found comfort in establishing routines and relying on her church community for support. After long days caring for two children, she unwound by playing video games. She’d sometimes go shopping, picking up the latest Star Wars shoes, hats, or videos to add to Austin’s growing collections. Scott, however, felt helpless and threw himself into his work. He worked extensive hours to afford Austin’s medical care and therapies. When he wasn’t working, he would drink to forget his troubles.
Over the next 5 years, the LeRette family settled into a new normal. Despite his dreams of electrifying crowds with a rock band, navigating the bustling streets of Manhattan, creating memorable ads for a prestigious agency, and owning a sleek green Volvo, Scott’s life took a different path. He didn’t mind saying that plans change sometimes.
Moving ahead in time, we then see the boys beginning their middle school years. Austin is now in the eighth grade at the local middle school. The kids adore Austin’s outgoing spirit and positive attitude. So much so, they convinced him to become the school’s mascot-a friendly tiger- for all of their local basketball games. Upon a new student, Tyler (Pilot Bunch), at the school, Austin attempted to establish a friendship with him. Things take a turn for the worse, prompting Logan to step in and inform Tyler that his sibling has autism. Much later in the story, the narrative reveals the difficult circumstances facing Tyler: his mother’s cancer diagnosis and his father’s imprisonment.
My thoughts
As you can probably see by my summary, there’s so much in this movie I could have discussed. Focusing primarily on Austin’s challenges living with both brittle bone disease and autism, the film commendably offers a thoughtful exploration from a parental perspective. When a child is diagnosed with a condition, the very first and most important question parents or guardians naturally and immediately ask themselves is, “What do we do now?” For many parents, the gut reaction is to jump in and immediately fix things. But sometimes you can’t. When parents face this, it can leave them feeling a profound sense of helplessness and discouragement, making it difficult to cope effectively. This can lead some parents to become proactive in their child’s care, forcing them to learn everything possible about their child’s diagnosis and becoming passionate advocates to ensure their child receives the best possible care and treatment. Some individuals cope with their troubles by drinking and allowing themselves to be overcome by negativity, rather than maintaining a positive outlook.
As Scott battled to maintain equilibrium in his life, his excessive drinking spiraled out of control, ultimately leading to his job loss and a devastating fall from grace. Unable to meet their daily expenses, they unfortunately had to undergo foreclosure, forcing them to downsize. Soon after, things come to head and Teresa realizes something needs to change. Drawing on the painful lessons learned from her father’s long and arduous battle with alcoholism, she presented Scott with an ultimatum-. No more alcohol in the house.
“I’m sorry I didn’t realize you had such problem with drinking. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Well, there’s a lot I haven’t said..”
“Oh, really? Why is that?
“Maybe it’s because I haven’t had the guts. Because I’ve already been divorced twice. And I have 2 kids. And I’m afraid that I don’t have options that I don’t deserve options. But you know what? I watched my mom put up with this for years. And I know how it ends. I’m tired of it and I’m not going to do it anymore. You stop this nonsense right now Scott or I’m done.”
I wish I could say the ultimatum was the end of it. However, it is sometimes necessary to allow everything to fall apart in order to fully appreciate and recognize the extent of what one already possesses. The carefully constructed plan completely unravels as the trio celebrates New Year’s Eve together, leaving Teresa behind to rest, unfortunately, as her body is weary from the previous events. It was precisely at that opportune moment that Scott seized the chance to indulge in a drink. Thankfully, they arrived home safe despite Scott being drunk. But the damage has been done. Teresa demands that Scott leave their home immediately and seek treatment. After 2 months in treatment, Teresa finally welcomes him home.
Some Of My Favorite Quotes
I am tempted to delve deeper into the intricate details of the movie’s plot, but I would hate to ruin the surprises and the suspense that await you. While I will concede that the film’s narrative is somewhat erratic, shifting back and forth between depictions of Austin’s many brittle bone fractures and the reactions of his parents, perhaps this stylistic choice serves to reflect the unpredictable nature of autism as experienced by Austin. In this movie, audiences gain a revealing and empathetic understanding of the daily life and parental responsibilities of an individual with a disability, highlighting their strength but their weaknesses as well. This movie highlights the difficulty of coming to terms with the diagnosis, as well as the effort involved in fully embracing it. As we see from Scott’s journey, this isn’t always easy.
I have included below a few of my favorite quotes from the movie; these lines resonated with me and highlight the film’s themes.
“Your mistakes don’t define you, how you heal does.”
-Marcia, Scott’s mom (Patricia Heaton)
After being kicked out by Teresa, Scott goes to his parents’ house seeking advice and solace. Consumed by remorse, Scott finds himself completely shattered by the impact of his choices.
“I wish I could enjoy anything as much as my son enjoys everything.”
After 2 months of treatment, Scott makes a breakthrough. He finally realizes he doesn’t need to fix his son, his perfect the way he is. Austin doesn’t take a single day for granted, living every moment as if it were his last.
“You have never stepped fighting for us”
This quote is from Teresa. After 2 months of living apart, she realizes that her family has made enough progress and it’s time for Scott to come home. She has realized that she’s not following in her parents’ footsteps. She is not her mother and Scott is not her father. He has always remained faithful to his family and done what he thought was best. Sure, he’s not perfect. But no one is!
“Things break. Sometimes good, sometimes it’s bad. Sometimes you don’t know which one it is.” -Austin
While the movie starts with Austin mentioning that things break, a not-so-subtle allusion to his brittle bone disease, this detail profoundly enhances the movie’s overall theme on multiple levels.
Here’s what I mean
- Being broken doesn’t always mean in the literal sense of the word. The term can also encompass a person’s emotional state, for example, describing someone with a spirit that has been crushed or deeply wounded.
- Too many times, being broken has negative connotations. Being broken isn’t always a bad thing. On occasion, this perspective reveals the necessity for a major change or improvement to a certain aspect of the process or system under consideration, thus pointing towards the need for enhancement. The implication is that you are ready and open to the process of self-examination and making the changes that are needed.
