Runaways (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Runaways
director = Brent Bambic
starring = Austin O'Brien
Demetrius Navarro
Esteban Powell
Arielle Paul
Carmine Caridi
Arif S. Kinchen
writer = Brent Bambic
producer = Brent Bambic
Ethan Black
Demetrius Navarro
Sergio D. Acosta
distributor = Echelon Entertainment
runtime = 103 min
released = May 17, 2004 (Cannnes Film Festival Market)
language = English
imdb_id = 0340951 |

"Runaways" is a 2004 independent film written and directed by Brent Bambic. It is based upon a true story.

Cast

* Austin O'Brien as Steve Moore (16 yrs), The center character of the story. Striving to find stability in his life after his mom kicks him out of the house.
* Demetrius Navarro as Mike (17 yrs), Another runaway that Steve meets at the youth shelter and befriends
* Esteban Powell as Andy (17 yrs), Forced to live in the shelter after his mothers disagrees with his choice of music and friends.
* Arielle Paul as Sally (16 yrs), Steve's love interest that guides Steve to the shelter.
* Carmine Caridi as Officer Brady, Forced to arrest Steve after his mother falsely accuses him of attacking her fiancee.

Other cast members include:
* Arif S. Kinchen as Marcus, A runaway that rooms with Steve, Andy and Mike at the shelter.
* Todd Robinson as Speedy, a violent drug addict that Andy is seen with.
* Joseph Aguilar as K-9, another drug addict that Andy is seen with and threatens Steve.
* Susan Johnston as Cheryl Moore, Steves unstable mother.

Plot

Runaways is Steve Moore's (Austin O'Brien) story. He's sixteen and lives with his younger sister, mother Cheryl and her boyfriend John, in a modest house in Bakersfield, California. An abusive and often intoxicated man, John rules the household, and though his attacks on Steve result in emergency hospital visits, Cheryl's loyalty is to her boyfriend. To protect her relationship with John, she "ditches" her son, having him arrested and locked in a correctional "mental" facility, before coercing her older brother Burt, who lives in Hollywood, to take him. Steve quickly discovers that Burt cannot even provide temporary lodging, but an administrator at his new high school directs him to a shelter for runaway kids where he soon learns to navigate his way. At the shelter which offers only a two to three month respite from the streets, counselor Tony Perez (Jack Forcinito) tries to provide guidance to Steve and his roommates Mike (Demetrius Navarro) and Andy (Esteban Powell). While encouraging them to try to reconcile with their parents, he insists that they take charge of their own lives and believe that a better life is possible. Angry and confused teen runaways come and go at the shelter, as Steve learns he is not alone in his predicament and that the streets offer a harsh reality. Postponing his desire to play basketball on the school team, Steve finds an after-school job to support himself and pursues a relationship with the affluent but unhappy Sally (Arielle Paul). Andy spirals down into crack addiction and becomes a homeless prostitute and Mike gains stability in his life once he moves in with his loving and supportive aunt. Mike's aunt soon opens her home to Steve as well, and the two celebrate their good fortune at having the opportunity to get their lives on track.

MPAA rating

Not rated by the MPAA

External links

*
* [http://www.runawaysthefilm.com Official Website] ,
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=QUgxmQQ7S0Q Runaways Trailer]