"The Boys of Summer" is a wonderful documentary about a father and son making a two-month and over 20,000 mile journey to visit every major league baseball park and attend a game and more. The fact that the father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease gave the son (Robert Cochrane) a sense of urgency to start this adventure. Along the way Robert and his father also go to The National Baseball Hall of Fame, The Negro Baseball Hall of Fame, and The Field of Dreams. In addition they attend a Parkinson's Disease Awareness Convention.
I was very impressed with the messages of love and hope weaved throughout the project. You see a son relate to his father is a loving and caring way that is genuine and refreshing. You experience someone learning from others how to cope with the onset of Parkinson's disease. And, you see how baseball, still our national past-time, can pull people together who are related and even those who aren't related.
Like the previous reviewer, this movie brought back fond memories of my father and younger brother attending baseball games with me and also playing baseball with me. In my case, the only times that I spent truly alone with my father involved baseball. And, attending games or doing anything related to baseball with my brother allows us to relate in a really special way.
I also found myself transported to ballparks and places I'd been before as well as places I may never have otherwise seen in a wonderful and nurturing way.
This movie brought some of my favorite sayings to the screen. You can accomplish anything that you can imagine. People are basically good. And, if you help other people you will benefit more than it costs you.
If you are looking for an emotionally uplifting and smart movie that will inspire and inform you this is it.
I know that the director is looking for a distributor so that more people can see this movie. And, when that happens the profits will go to Parkinson's research. For more information go to baseballdoc.com.
