“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?”
Few words in film have had more of an impact on my life than the final words in Stand by Me, the Rob Reiner adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Body. On top of this being one of my favorite films and stories of all time, I used this quote in the toast at my best friend’s wedding, conveniently who I met when I was 12 years old. Friendships have always meant everything to me, and the ones you create and develop during your youth help to define the kind of person you’re going to be. Even after 35 years, Stand by Me hits home on all aspects on the true bond of youthful friendships.
Stand by Me takes place in 1959, and follows the simple story of four 12-year-old best friends, Gordie LaChance (Wil Wheaton), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) and Vern Tessio (Jerry O’Connell). They hear word of the possible location of the dead body of a local missing boy, and take a two-day trek in order to find the body, and report it to the town in hopes of becoming local heroes.
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I think the simplicity of the story is something that makes Stand by Me truly special. There’s nothing overly unique, or interesting, about it, which makes it so relatable. Those of us who had these types of friends, experiences, and most importantly, these rare moments of clarity, where we can truly understand and feel each other’s happiness and sadness, find this film so resonating.
There are many beautiful moments of camaraderie, with realistic tragedy strewn between. All four characters dealt with their own grievances that you only really start to deal with and understand at that age. Gordie was grieving the sudden death of his older brother, and the maladaptive effects it had on his parents. Chris was part of a family known throughout the town as being troublemakers, predestined to be judged and punished by everyone. Vern dealt with constant bullying for his shape, size and weight, and Teddy, struggling to find the balance between admiration and disdain for a severely abusive father.
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Each character has this revealing moment of vulnerability about themselves to one another, that creates a brilliant connection between the audience and the film. Chris breaks down while telling a story about stolen milk money, and a teacher betraying him when he tries to return it. Teddy stands in front of an oncoming train, ready to die, just for a smidge of power in a life where it is constantly being taken from him. It’s all very heartbreaking, but creates emotional investment in these characters.
The balance of the film is in its ability to also make the audience smile. After all, the entire film is an adult Gordie fondly remembering his childhood. It’s not all sad. The boys laugh, sing (to an amazing soundtrack, by the way), and tell stories together. They connect on a level that only exists at an age when the most important thing in your life is making sure that your friends are there with you.
The powerful culmination hits when the boys finally find the body. There is this cold moment of silence as they gaze upon his lifeless corpse, and their realization that the boy can no longer feel any of things they’ve felt for the past two days, regardless of how good or bad they were. The preservation of the boy’s eternal peace becomes the priority, and Gordie and his friends become protective, not allowing the viciously scummy Ace (Kiefer Sutherland) to disturb the body.
“You’re not taking him. Nobody’s taking him.”
There’s this innocent sweetness in children’s curiosity for things like mortality, morbidity, courage, connection, grief, and being vulnerable. It’s all on display in Stand by Me. These aren’t generational things, these are human things, and why the subject matter holds up so well after three decades.
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