The Dust Factory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Dust Factory |
|
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Eric Small |
| Produced by | Tani Cohen Eric Small |
| Written by | Eric Small |
| Starring | Armin Mueller-Stahl Hayden Panettiere Ryan Kelley Kim Myers George De La Peña Michael Angarano Peter Horton |
| Music by | Luis Bacalov |
| Cinematography | Stephen M. Katz |
| Editing by | Glenn Farr |
| Studio | Bahr Productions Inc. |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | October 15, 2004 |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Dust Factory is a fantasy film from 2004, created by Eric Small. It tells a unique story about a boy's journey between life and a special, dream-like world.
Contents
What is The Dust Factory About?
The movie follows a young boy named Ryan Flynn (Ryan Kelley). Ryan has been very quiet and hasn't used his imagination much since his father passed away. One day, while walking with a friend, Ryan falls from a bridge and seems to drown.
Ryan's Journey Begins
Instead of drowning, Ryan finds himself in a mysterious place called the Dust Factory. This place is like a parallel world for people who are very close to death but haven't quite passed on. The Dust Factory is huge, with lakes, forests, mountains, and a big field of dry grass.
At the center of this world is a circus tent. Inside, there's a powerful person known as the Ringmaster. Everyone in the Dust Factory must enter this tent and take a big "leap of faith" across the arena. They can either jump into the arms of a trapeze artist to move on to death, or they can fall into the arena. If they fall, they leave behind a pile of dust, which gives the place its name. Falling also means they can return to their real life.
While in the Dust Factory, Ryan starts to speak again and use his imagination. He also meets his grandfather (Armin Mueller-Stahl), who in real life has a memory condition that makes it hard for him to talk to his family. His grandfather seems to know a lot about the Dust Factory. He gives Ryan advice and tells him stories that have hidden meanings Ryan needs to figure out. These stories often teach about believing in yourself and having hope.
Exploring the Dust Factory
Ryan spends what feels like an endless day exploring the Dust Factory. The weather is always perfect for wandering around and enjoying the beautiful scenery. His grandfather guides him, and he's joined by a girl his age named Melanie Lewis (Hayden Panettiere).
Melanie has been in the Dust Factory for a long time and doesn't remember her past life. She believes it's always winter there, even though Ryan and the audience see it as endless summer. Ryan and Melanie become close friends, enjoying their time together.
Friends and Challenges
Their happy time is sometimes interrupted by the mysterious Ringmaster, who tries to interfere with their activities. There's also a disagreement between Melanie and Ryan's grandfather. The grandfather wants Ryan to "make the leap" and return to his real life. But Melanie wants things to stay the same forever, so she doesn't want Ryan to leave.
The Big Decision
Things slowly build up to a big moment. Ryan's grandfather eventually "makes the leap" and passes away. After this, even though Melanie doesn't want to be left alone, Ryan decides to make the leap himself. He falls into the pile of dust, which sends him back to his real life. Melanie then decides to challenge her own belief about the endless winter and choose her own path.
Back to Real Life
Back in the real world, Ryan comes out from under the water and is rescued by his friend. He doesn't remember the Dust Factory consciously, but it seems to have helped him. He has regained his voice and feels a general happiness about life. Later, he meets Melanie, who in real life has recovered from a serious brain condition. Even though neither of them remembers the other, they seem to recognize each other deep down.
Who Are the Characters?
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they play in The Dust Factory:
- Armin Mueller-Stahl as Grandpa Randolph
- Hayden Panettiere as Melanie Lewis
- Ryan Kelley as Ryan Flynn
- Kim Myers as Angie Flynn
- George De La Peña as Ringmaster
- Michael Angarano as Rocky Mazzelli
- Peter Horton as Lionel
See also
In Spanish: The Dust Factory para niños
