Movies - TV
Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans Hits Close To Home
By BRYAN YOUNG
Spoiler Warning!
This story contains spoilers for
Steven Spielberg's "The Fabelmans."
Stephen Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” is a semi-autobiographical movie that follows Sammy Fabelman as he pursues his dream of filmmaking against the backdrop of his home life. In the movie, Sammy sees the truth through the lens of the camera, and in turn, the movie attempts to get to the truth of art and the obsession that drives artists.
“The Fabelmans” depicts Sammy as someone who is singularly afflicted with the desire to make films, which results in his family life suffering. Despite wanting to nurture his son’s art, Sammy’s father can’t comprehend Sammy’s passion. Likewise, Sammy is portrayed as disconnected from his siblings, unless they’re the subject of his films.
The one person who truly understands Sammy is his mom, Mitzi, portrayed by Michelle Williams. Mitzi acts as an excellent foil to Sammy because she too is consumed by art, but she set aside her dreams of being a concert pianist once she got married and had children. Because she can no longer pursue her own artistry, Mitzi encourages Sammy’s filmmaking.
Uncle Boris sees this tension and warns Sammy that eventually, he will have to make a choice between his art and his family. Mitzi's life acts as a cautionary tale, and because of it, Sammy never gives up. Ultimately, “The Fabelmans” attempts to defend artistry and remind audiences to continue to pursue their dreams even if it means choosing a nontraditional path.