... this amusing and moving slice-of-life concerns a little boy named Joey (Richie Andrusco). His father is dead and his mother leaves for the weekend to see a sick relative, leaving Joey in the care of his older brother Lennie (Richard Brewster). When Joey thinks that he's killed his brother, the little boy runs off to Coney Island, where he lives every kid's fantasy of over-indulgence

This was shot with handheld cameras and a non-professional cast. The sound was all done in post, and there's a lone harmonica proving the score. That last bit was the film's weakest point, as the music became repetitive, but not to the point of hurting of the film at all. The film manages to capture one of the least phony depictions of boyhood that I've seen in a narrative film. This was included in the National Film Registry in 1997. Recommended.

Talk about a movie with a different feel to it!

It looks like a home movie with real people, not actors. Actually, it almost is that, as these were new actors filmed by new filmmaker managing on a threadbare budget.

The little boy in the film, Richie Andrusco, was the central character and he had never acted before and has never acted after this film! No wonder he looked so "real." Most of the people in the film - at least in the background - were real people, not actors, so you really get a feel of being in New York City and Coney Island in particular in the mid 1950s.

The story is a simple one, about a kid who thought he killed his brother and runs away, spending a night and two days at Coney Island. It shows how a kid that age probably would spend his time at this place. You almost have to fast-forward through a couple of scenes as they go on too long, such as the boy picking up bottles to return for cash.

This movie is real curiosity piece. It's not a film you would watch over and over but it's definitely worth at least one look.

In lower class Brooklyn, young Joey Norton is often teased by his older brother Lennie. Their single mother has to work and Lennie has to watch Joey. Lennie and his friends play a prank on Joey pretending to get shoot. A guilt-ridden Joey runs away to Coney Island. Lennie is more concerned about his prized harmonica at first until he gets a call about his missing brother. Joey makes some change collecting empty bottles and spending the money on pony rides.

Most of this is the little amateur kids in the regular setting. It's a real slice of life. Coney Island is full of regular folks having their little outings. There is a bit of humor. It's charming and an early pioneer of indie filmmaking. It is documentary in style. It's a precursor of future film movements.