Tru Confessions
Encyclopedia
Tru Confessions is a 2002 Disney Channel Original Movie. Tru Walker (Clara Bryant
) aspires to be a famous filmmaker. She has a twin brother Eddie (Shia LaBeouf
), who is mentally disabled, and becomes the subject of Tru's documentary
for a film contest she enters. The film was directed by Paul Hoen
and is based on the book by Janet Tashjian
.
that causes him to act like a young child and causes chaos when in social situations. Although he is affectionate, his behavior often frustrates Tru because she feels as if she is unable to reason with him. Furthermore, she is often angry at her mother because it seems as if Eddie is the sibling
whom is favoured. Although Tru feels sorry for Eddie, she is tired of being unable to pursue normal activities. For example, even when Eddie sets the table for dinner, this is the cause of havoc.
Tru is ecstatic when she hears about a contest, the winner of which will get his or her own TV show. When Tru reveals this news to her mother, Tru is mildly disappointed at her mother's reaction because her mother does not appear to share her daughter's enthusiasm. Tru is at a loss in respect of what she should choose as the subject of her documentary
. When her English teacher encourages her to select a topic which is meaningful to her, Tru decides to take her teacher's advice. With the documentary contest submission deadline coming close, Tru is very anxious and makes a video which her friends and family find boring. Tru then explores a subject which is personal to herself: she makes a video about her brother in which she highlights the positive influence that Eddie has had upon her life. She also reveals that living with a brother with a disability is often stressful and draining.
Another source of frustration in Tru's life is that she thinks her mother does not understand her. Thus, she seeks help on an online forum where she receives support from someone who refers to herself as Deedee. This on-line personality helps Tru through her tough times. Deedee convinces Tru that nothing great has ever been achieved without sacrifices and that she'll be rewarded for showing her true self. Later on in the film, after an argument between mother and daughter, Tru's mother repeats the advice that Deedee has given to Tru, leading Tru to reach the correct conclusion that Deedee is in fact Tru's mother. Once again, Tru becomes cross with her mother.
When the Walker family attends a street fair, Tru confronts her fears: how cruel people can be towards persons with disabilities. This occurs when Tru notices that Eddie is wearing a new hat. When Tru asks him where he got the hat, Eddie points to a group of guys. Tru reminds him that he shouldn't take stuff from strangers. One of the boys in the group is a boy from school that she likes. It later transpires that members of the group spat in the hat that Eddie was wearing. Tru is devastated and disgusted. When the subject of the crush tells her that she is a freak just like her brother, Tru pushes him off a high bridge into a deep river. Tru does not reveal to her parents what happened.
Matters become more positive for Tru when she receives a letter telling her she won the contest, which means that her video will be broadcast on television. Tru worries that everyone at school will make fun of her because of the personal things about herself she revealed in the video. To make matters worse, Tru's father is caught up at work (he is a brain surgeon) and is not able to get home in time for her show. In the film, the relationship between father and son is strained because the former often lashes out verbally and is harsh towards the latter. Unknown to the family, Tru's father watches the show on a hospital television and is touched by what he sees. At school the next day, all of the students seem to have loved and appreciated Tru's show. They clap in the hall for both Tru and Eddie.
Tru's father asks his daughter why he does not feature prominently in the film. She reluctantly shows him the footage of him she did have, which shows him in a bad light. Another theme of the film is the father's inability to relate properly to his son. Throughout the film, the father constantly snaps at Eddie and finds it difficult to be patient with him. The audience does learn that the father does love his son very much.
Tru comes to the saddening realization that as time passes she will live a normal life and Eddie will always be the same. Mr. Walker starts trying to make more time for the family and be more patient with Eddie. Tru and her mother make time to talk to each other and Tru insists that she will actually listen. Eddie and Tru sit down together to watch a soccer match they both played in. Eddie continuously rewinds to a play in which Tru passes the ball to Eddie and he makes a goal. Tru exclaims "Eddie, come on! We've watched this scene like ten times. Let's move on. It's not like it's going to change." Eddie replies "I like it. I don't want it to change. It's you and me. Being twins." Eddie tells her he wants to be just like everyone else, because everyone makes fun of him. Tru tells Eddie that if he was like everyone else he wouldn't get extra help in school or be able to rollerskate in the house. Then Tru tearfully says that if Eddie was "normal" he wouldn't be the brother that she loves.
. In one of the scenes, when the children exit the ferry, the shot shows the CN Tower
and other major buildings in Toronto. The school scenes were filmed at Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, which is located in Toronto.
Clara Bryant
Clara Bryant is an American actress. She is an alumna of Columbia University.-Film:-Television starring role:*Billy playing Annie MacGregor...
) aspires to be a famous filmmaker. She has a twin brother Eddie (Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf
Shia Saide LaBeouf is an American actor who became known among younger audiences for his part in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and made his film debut in Holes . In 2007, he starred as the leads in Disturbia and Transformers...
), who is mentally disabled, and becomes the subject of Tru's documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
for a film contest she enters. The film was directed by Paul Hoen
Paul Hoen
Paul Hoen is an American director and producer.Hoen has directed and produced projects such as Cheetah Girls 3 and Dadnapped.Hoen studied drama, film and television at the University of Santa Clara. He was admitted to the Directors Guild of America in 1987...
and is based on the book by Janet Tashjian
Janet Tashjian
Janet Tashjian is an American author who writes books targeted at young adults. She is married and has a son.-Works:* 1997: Tru Confessions...
.
Plot
Trudy "Tru" Walker is a teenager who aspires to have her own TV show. Tru is somewhat unhappy with her life. Her twin brother, Eddie, has a developmental disabilityDevelopmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
that causes him to act like a young child and causes chaos when in social situations. Although he is affectionate, his behavior often frustrates Tru because she feels as if she is unable to reason with him. Furthermore, she is often angry at her mother because it seems as if Eddie is the sibling
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
whom is favoured. Although Tru feels sorry for Eddie, she is tired of being unable to pursue normal activities. For example, even when Eddie sets the table for dinner, this is the cause of havoc.
Tru is ecstatic when she hears about a contest, the winner of which will get his or her own TV show. When Tru reveals this news to her mother, Tru is mildly disappointed at her mother's reaction because her mother does not appear to share her daughter's enthusiasm. Tru is at a loss in respect of what she should choose as the subject of her documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
. When her English teacher encourages her to select a topic which is meaningful to her, Tru decides to take her teacher's advice. With the documentary contest submission deadline coming close, Tru is very anxious and makes a video which her friends and family find boring. Tru then explores a subject which is personal to herself: she makes a video about her brother in which she highlights the positive influence that Eddie has had upon her life. She also reveals that living with a brother with a disability is often stressful and draining.
Another source of frustration in Tru's life is that she thinks her mother does not understand her. Thus, she seeks help on an online forum where she receives support from someone who refers to herself as Deedee. This on-line personality helps Tru through her tough times. Deedee convinces Tru that nothing great has ever been achieved without sacrifices and that she'll be rewarded for showing her true self. Later on in the film, after an argument between mother and daughter, Tru's mother repeats the advice that Deedee has given to Tru, leading Tru to reach the correct conclusion that Deedee is in fact Tru's mother. Once again, Tru becomes cross with her mother.
When the Walker family attends a street fair, Tru confronts her fears: how cruel people can be towards persons with disabilities. This occurs when Tru notices that Eddie is wearing a new hat. When Tru asks him where he got the hat, Eddie points to a group of guys. Tru reminds him that he shouldn't take stuff from strangers. One of the boys in the group is a boy from school that she likes. It later transpires that members of the group spat in the hat that Eddie was wearing. Tru is devastated and disgusted. When the subject of the crush tells her that she is a freak just like her brother, Tru pushes him off a high bridge into a deep river. Tru does not reveal to her parents what happened.
Matters become more positive for Tru when she receives a letter telling her she won the contest, which means that her video will be broadcast on television. Tru worries that everyone at school will make fun of her because of the personal things about herself she revealed in the video. To make matters worse, Tru's father is caught up at work (he is a brain surgeon) and is not able to get home in time for her show. In the film, the relationship between father and son is strained because the former often lashes out verbally and is harsh towards the latter. Unknown to the family, Tru's father watches the show on a hospital television and is touched by what he sees. At school the next day, all of the students seem to have loved and appreciated Tru's show. They clap in the hall for both Tru and Eddie.
Tru's father asks his daughter why he does not feature prominently in the film. She reluctantly shows him the footage of him she did have, which shows him in a bad light. Another theme of the film is the father's inability to relate properly to his son. Throughout the film, the father constantly snaps at Eddie and finds it difficult to be patient with him. The audience does learn that the father does love his son very much.
Tru comes to the saddening realization that as time passes she will live a normal life and Eddie will always be the same. Mr. Walker starts trying to make more time for the family and be more patient with Eddie. Tru and her mother make time to talk to each other and Tru insists that she will actually listen. Eddie and Tru sit down together to watch a soccer match they both played in. Eddie continuously rewinds to a play in which Tru passes the ball to Eddie and he makes a goal. Tru exclaims "Eddie, come on! We've watched this scene like ten times. Let's move on. It's not like it's going to change." Eddie replies "I like it. I don't want it to change. It's you and me. Being twins." Eddie tells her he wants to be just like everyone else, because everyone makes fun of him. Tru tells Eddie that if he was like everyone else he wouldn't get extra help in school or be able to rollerskate in the house. Then Tru tearfully says that if Eddie was "normal" he wouldn't be the brother that she loves.
Setting
Most of the movie was shot in Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In one of the scenes, when the children exit the ferry, the shot shows the CN Tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
and other major buildings in Toronto. The school scenes were filmed at Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, which is located in Toronto.
Cast
- Clara BryantClara BryantClara Bryant is an American actress. She is an alumna of Columbia University.-Film:-Television starring role:*Billy playing Annie MacGregor...
- Trudy "Tru" Walker - Shia LaBeoufShia LaBeoufShia Saide LaBeouf is an American actor who became known among younger audiences for his part in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and made his film debut in Holes . In 2007, he starred as the leads in Disturbia and Transformers...
- Edward "Eddie" Walker - Mare WinninghamMare WinninghamMare Winningham , born Mary Megan Winningham, is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Drama Desk, 7 times for Emmy Awards , and has also won an Independent Spirit Award and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.She is...
- Ginny - William Francis McGuire - Bob
- Nicole Dicker - Denise Palumbo
- Kevin DuhaneyKevin DuhaneyKevin Duhaney is a Canadian rapper and actor. He is best known for his role as Ethan James, the Blue Dino Ranger, in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder-Film:* Animal 2 - Tommy...
- Jake - Yani GellmanYani GellmanYani Gellman is an American film and television actor.Gellman was born in Miami, Florida to a Canadian father and an Australian mother; he was named after a family friend, writer Jan Joors...
- William "Billy" Meier - Craig Eldridge - Mr. Taylor
- Jennifer Foster - Judy "Deedee" Walker
- Rahnuma Panthaky - Ms. Hinchey
- Colm Magner - Coach Rice
- Arnold Pinnock - Dr. Dean Cutler
- Keandre' Sutton - Dr. Griffin
- Monet Sutton - Nicole Allen