She envisions great things for him but there are many obstacles to overcome. This warmhearted story shows children the rewards of perseverance in following their dreams and not giving up in the face of popular opinion. It demonstrates the redemptive agency of love in a family under enormous stress and shows a father coming through as a parent after some egregious errors. The film shows a family dealing with the loss of its wife and mother while taking care of a grandmother who is gently sinking into senility. Finally, the film reveals the sacrifices required of striking union workers and their families, as well as the anguish of a community whose way of life is doomed in the face of new economic conditions.
Profanity pervades the dialogue.
Tony curse continually. The family pulls together in the end, but not before violent arguments in which the father, close to breaking down, throws his son Billy against a wall. The father also hits his older son, an adult, drawing blood in a futile attempt to stop him from an early morning foray to damage company property. Violent clashes between the police and striking miners are part of the story. Billy hits another child-dancer.