The Fabelmans

I hope Speilberg's mom wasn't like the mom in the Fabelmans.

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There's things about it I enjoyed but its definitely not his best, its not even mid-tier for him imo

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This was clearly just a personal project for him. I loved it because I had no idea he graduated from Saratoga High, which is just a few miles from where I've spent most of my life. Saratoga is a town of rich people, and the way he described his experiences doesn't surprise me. Apparently he publicly complained about his experience at Saratoga High decades ago. His classmates have been trying to defend their reputations since the 90s.

saratogafalcon.org/content/the-fabelmans-puts-spotlight-on-antisemitic-abuse-directed-at-schools-most-famous-alumnus/

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Spielberg’s experience was nothing short of miserable, making him feel as “alien as I had ever felt in my life.” In an interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air”, he said he internalized his anger and tried to make himself as small as possible, which he’s most ashamed of now. But the experience has left a lasting imprint: “I haven’t gotten over it nor have I forgiven any of them,” he said.

Despite this, many of Spielberg’s classmates — who were interviewed by McBride — have contradicted his recollection of the school. Judith Hamilton, another Jewish student in his class, said her peers were “perplexed and disturbed” when Spielberg first brought up his experience to the Mercury News in 1993: She thought he made the comments just to promote his movie Schindler’s List. “It was such a shock to all of us,” she told McBride. “Our wonder boy, the boy we were all so proud of, actually hated us.”
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But, in the end, his peers agreed that Spielberg did not enjoy his time at the school. “It was not a school to be the new kid in,” said Kendra Hanson, also a Jewish student in his class, told McBride. “If you stood out, if you were different, it was really tough to get integrated. If you were Jewish, you might have all the more reason for [feeling] different.”

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Sounds to me like the problem was more that he was the new kid (and a Jew). He only went to Saratoga High for his senior year. That would suck for most people. But he's clearly bitter about it, and used his immense power to get a little revenge against the Class of 1965.