Episode 004: Stand By Me (1986) - Freedom and Mortality

Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me" (1986) is a beautiful and often heartbreaking film that grapples with the push and pull of the desire for freedom, on the one hand, and one's own finitude, on the other. The performances by the youngsters are outstanding: River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton, as well as Keefer Sutherland. The similarities and differences to Stephen King's original novella show how the same story can emphasize radically different attitudes to life. Join me as I share some of my thoughts with you.