I see very few films (in theaters) twice, but Paramount’s version (directed by Larry Peerce, adapted by Fred Seagl) of John Knowles “bildungsroman” or “coming of age” novel “A Separate Peace” is one of the very few. I saw it the first time in 1972 while living in northern VA and working for the government and being near my home of origin, and a second time six months later after moving to New Jersey on a new job, when I was on the verge of “coming out.”
The protagonist is Gene, played by Parker Stevenson, a likeable young man, good student and just a fair athlete. It’s 1943 in prep school in New Hampshire, and boys know they will be drafted at their 18th birthdays, so they have to live fully now. Gene feels drawn to Finny (John Heyl) who is more athletic and, importantly, more extroverted and socially charismatic.
Perhaps Gene resents his attachment, which can become a little clingy. One day they are in the woods and Finny climbs a tree and Gene follows. Perhaps out of a subconscious compulsion, Gene jousts the limb (as he says in the novel). Finny falls and breaks a leg.
Eventually, although Finny maintains the friendship and seems oblivious to suspicion, Finny suddenly dies of a secondary embolism. That would not be very likely today, although anytime someone is in bed nursing care includes watching for clots and using blood thinners if necessary. Gene finds out when he makes a visit to the hospital.
I had a friendship that was a bit like this while working at that government job, and the movie did relate to what was going on in my life before I “came out.”
The book would be recommended fiction in high school English classes.
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