Heiners Filmseiten – You’ve Got a Friend (en)

You’ve Got a Friend

Francaise title: L’étoffe d’un champion
Russian title: У вас есть друг
Original title: You’ve Got a Friend

Alternative titles:
Derby

Youth movie – USA
Production year: 2007
Movie length: 105 minutes

Director: James A. Contner
Writer: Oliver Robins
Cinematograph: James W. Wrenn
Music: Kevin Kiner

Movie description:

In 1976, 12 year old Bobby Graham, a recent orphan, moves to Albuquerque to live with his aunt and uncle. Determined to follow in his late father’s creative footsteps, Bobby defies his uncle and teams up with the town recluse, Vietnam Vet Jim Kliekan, to build a soap box racing car and compete in the derby...

After Bobby Graham’s parents are killed in an automobile accident in his native San Diego, he’s sent to live with his father’s brother, Jeff, and his wife, Gayle in the small town of Eagle Rock. The couple finds themselves instant parents, struggling to learn the ropes. Bobby dreams of building the soap box derby racer he and his dad had designed, but his uncle scorns the idea, preferring Bobby spend his spare time at the family hardware store – though Bobby has other plans. He secretly finds a mentor in town-loner Jim Klecan, the former town champ of yesteryear. Klecan, a Vietnam vet and handyman, is derided by most of the town for his isolated lifestyle, but provides the friendship and mentoring the young boy needs to become a champ. His relationship with Bobby also provides its own healing, as does Bobby’s compassionate teacher, Miss Nelson.

Boy Actors