The Way Way Back
Bader - ages 18+ - Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2013
Nat Faxon, Jim Rash / Feature Narrative / United States of America / 2013 / 103 min / Colour / DCP / In English / Arabic subtitles / Gulf Premiere
Rated: Mature subject matter. Not suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 18 are not admitted into cinemas.
Synopsis
In Competition
It’s going to be quite a summer. Duncan, a timid 14-year-old, and Pam, his wounded mother, are going to spend their vacation with Trent, Pam’s intolerable new boyfriend, and his shallow, snooty daughter.
Confronted with a community of puzzling, often irresponsible adults, Duncan has a hard time fitting in, until he meets Owen, the carefree, good-natured manager of the Water Wizz water park. Owen not only offers Duncan a job, but also teaches him some valuable lessons in confidence and self-respect.
Summer vacations are a familiar backdrop for coming-of-age comedies, but ‘The Way Way Back’ sets itself apart with its ability to capture that intangible feeling of awkwardness, not-belonging and inadequacy we all experienced in our teenage years. It makes for a bittersweet celebration of the importance of bonding and finding out our own way in this world.
Written and directed by the Oscar-winning writers of ‘The Descendants’ (who also have cameos in the film), ‘The Way Way Back’, at once funny and melancholy, is graced with spot-on performances by an impressive ensemble cast that includes Liam James in the role of Duncan, and well-known actors like Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amanda Peet and a hysterical Allison Janney.
About the Director
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Nat Faxon obtained a degree in Theatre in upstate New York before moving to Los Angeles, where he joined the main company of the Groundlings in 2001. Prior to his Academy Award win, Faxon appeared in numerous films, including recent releases such as ‘Zookeeper’, starring Rosario Dawson, and ‘Bad Teacher', starring Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jim Rash is a comedian who has worked as an actor and writer on popular TV shows including ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Community’, as well as episodes of series such as ‘Friends’, ‘Will & Grace’ and ‘CSI’.
Credits
- Director
- Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
- Screenwriter
- Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
- Producer
- Kevin J. Walsh, Tom Rice
- Editor
- Tatiana S. Riegel
- Music
- Rob Simonsen
- Cinematographer
- John Bailey
- Production Company
- Fox Searchlight Europe - Twentieth Century House
- Cast
- Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James