I have not seen the film 'Incompreso' which covers the same storyline as Misunderstood, but I have read Florence Montgomery's original book and I can say that this film is fairly faithful to the original although set in modern times as opposed to Victorian England. It is basically a story about two boys and their relationship with father following mothers death. Father very much takes the older boy,Andrew,here played by Henry Thomas, for granted, whilst obsessing over his younger 'delicate' son. Then tragedy strikes and predictably,father lives to regret his neglect. Very much a tear jerker, I never the less have it mind that two endings were intended, one where Andrew survives and one where he does not. In the book he dies and this is the correct ending in my view. Very much an object lesson for parents, it is virtually impossible to take in the ending without crying.Gene Hackman would not have been my choice as father mainly because he seems incapable of closely relating to Andrew at the climax of the story. He's hard enough throughout the film but cannot come round sufficiently at the very end.Father, in the Montgomery story, is clearly heartbroken,as I would be if it were my son, but Hackman doesn't seem able to show this degree of emotional release. There is,to a degree,an element of poor direction here, the closing scenes are somehow remote.The film really belongs to Henry Thomas as Andrew. It is impossible not to warm to him and empathize with the double sadness of loosing mother and coping with a distant and cold father.He cannot seem to do anything right. He cries out for love and understanding but he doesn't get it,yet he is courageous in the manner of boys that age(12). The ending here is vague but I believe the storyline calls for Andrews to pass away, without this the film looses some integrity.I feel we should not always expect to leave the theatre whistling a happy tune. This is a film that teaches a valuable lesson and not all lessons are particularly easy.

I went to see this movie with my Dad 3 times with in one month in 1984 Bangkok, Thailand. The theater gave Moviegoers starch handkerchiefs as free gifts. At first time, I have no my own. I have to used it. It is really hurtful. When I get out of the theater, I almost could not open my eyes, have to hold my dad hand and hide my face to his arm. I hear giggling then glance at woman face with red eyes and nose. She is laughing with her friend, complaining how hard the handkerchief is.The misunderstood is a very good family movie. My dad and I got good feeling from this movie. After that we never misunderstand to each other because this movie tell us that we have to talk and listen to each other, forgive and forget. Only love is not enough. We have to understand each other and believe in our love and bond.This movie should be shown again all theaters around the world and nominated for academy award 2009.

This is one of the rare American re-makes of a foreign movie I have ever seen that I can really appreciate! I should have expected as much with the cast including Gene Hackman, Henry Thomas & Huckleberry Fox! Of course the acting is GREAT, but SURPRISE! -->> The story is almost identical to the original Italian "Incompreso".Some new material is introduced & some of the original is excluded! I can't tell the new material (without spoiling the movie), but to all who have seen "Incompreso", the worst exclusion (and it hurts) is the tear jerking camera scene. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes touching movies.

Contrived and sappy story, which is also difficult to understand. Mom dies. Dad can't fill her shoes... and nothing else after that. Hackman fills the father role with as much strength as he can muster with the lifeless script provided for him. Youngsters Thomas and Fox are engaging in the film through the poignant relationship they create.