Little Man Tate

Seven-year-old Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a child prodigy. He does complicated math problems in his head. He plays piano concertos, and paints in oils and watercolors. He worries so much about global warming and nuclear war that he has ulcers. However, for all that, Fred is also a lonely seven-year-old. Fred's single mother Dede (Jodie Foster), a waitress, loves Fred deeply and recognizes his genius, but she also wants him to have a normal childhood. To help Fred make friends, Dede throws him a birthday party. When Fred gives out invitations to his class, the children throw them on the ground and no one comes to the party. Enter Jane Grierson (Diane Wiest) who runs a school for gifted children. Jane is impressed with Fred's intelligence and wants him to attend her school. At first Dede doesn't want Fred to go, but she gives in when she realizes how lonely her son is. When Fred changes schools, he fits right in and makes friends with other high-IQ children. When summer comes, Dede and her sister get jobs at a Florida hotel and want to take Fred along to play with his cousins. Jane, on the other hand, wants Fred to spend the summer at a university to study quantum physics. Fred decides to spend the summer with Jane at the university. Although Fred does well in the physics classes, he is still a lonely seven-year old. All through the movie Dede and Jane disagree on what Fred needs the most. Dede wants Fred to have a normal childhood; Jane wants him to develop his talents. Eventually they realize that a child--even a brilliant one--needs it all: love, challenge and friends "Little Man Tate" is the story for anyone who is "different" and struggles to find a place in the world.