Digging to China
1997 · 1h 38m · Drama
Skip it. This indie drama sounds earnest but emotionally manipulative—pairing a precocious kid with a mentally disabled character after tragedy is a well-worn tearjerker formula that rarely earns its emotional beats. Without strong reviews or notable talent attached, there's no reason to spend your evening on what's likely a heavy-handed afterschool-special vibe.
Plot
Precocious young Harriet and her older sister Gwen live at their mother's motel in small-town New Hampshire. Harriet dreams of a life beyond her inattentive family and the stultifying town. A mentally disabled man named Ricky comes to stay at the motel, and Harriet finds him kinder and more interesting than anyone she has ever met. After tragedy strikes, Harriet and Ricky cling to each other ever more tightly.
Director: Timothy Hutton
Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Kevin Bacon, Mary Stuart Masterson, Marian Seldes, Cathy Moriarty