“The Fablemans” was a film directed by Steven Speilberg, starring Garbriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen. It was released in 2022, and by 2023, it has been nominated for many impressive awards, including Oscars, the BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes. 

 

This film was based on the story of Speilberg’s life, how his journey took him from a young boy who started out making short films for his boy scouts in Arizona, to travelling to LA and developing his undeniable talent for using film to awaken his audience’s hearts. It starts off with young Sammy Fableman being taken to the cinema and watching his first ever movie and from that moment on, his life has changed. 

 

We follow Sammy on his story through film - from a young child carelessly flinging his camera around on family car rides to a grown man, wielding his camera masterfully to capture his audience’s attention - and undertake challenges he faces alongside him. Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking moments was when Sammy’s dad criticises his passion for film - saying that other things are “more important than (his) hobby”. We all know what it feels like to have our interests put down and belittled. 

 

And it hurts. 

 

It hurts especially when it comes from a person close to us. 

 

So, yes, I think the film was wonderfully crafted, but also reminds us of the importance of resilience. Sammy was told that he would have to give up his hobbies of film-making and grow up; he was put through the challenge of seeing his mother and father’s best friend have an affair; he was bullied at school for being a Jew; his family was shattered and broken - and yet, despite nearly everything working against him, Sammy pulled through.