Normal Family
Logline
An adorable boy struggles to survive four outlandish family holidays in 1968 in this bittersweet coming-of-age novel. The entire action is set over four holidays in 1968 among an eccentric family of writers. Humor masks pain in this moving portrait of a boy becoming a young man.
Genre
Comedy
Short Summary
The story opens at the breakfast table on Thanksgiving morning in 1968, where our young hero is unable to get any of the eccentric characters to acknowledge his existence. This is the first of four holidays where no food will find its way to his mouth.
A massive fire on Independence Day at the Greenwich Country Club leads to a tragedy that will forever reshape the young boy's life. He discovers the truth about his sick mother and her traumatic childhood escaping Nazi Germany.
Setting
Greenwich, CT; Providence RI
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Meaningful Message,Philosophical Questions,Twist
Mature Audience Themes
Substance Abuse
Main Character Details
Name: Henry Pendergast
Age: Ten
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Aspiring,Charming,Empathetic,Engaging,Educated,Sarcastic,Funny,Selfless,Obedient
Additional Character Details
Name: George Pendergast
Age: 79
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Badass,Aggressive,Clumsy,Complex,Crazy,Decisive,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Masculine,Sexy,Blunt,Outspoken,Skillful,Funny,Sarcastic,Sophisticated
Additional Character Details
Name: Eve Pendergast
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Complex,Desperate,Engaging,Educated,Honorable,Insecure,Underdog,Sexy,Blunt,Selfless,Funny,Sarcastic,Secretive,Sophisticated
Additional Character Details
Name: Eve Pendergast
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Aggressive,Clumsy,Complex,Crazy,Desperate,Empathetic,Heroic,Educated,Funny,Outspoken,Seductive,Sophisticated
Development Pitch
This charming coming-of-age novel is set entirely over four holidays in 1968 and features a cast of eccentric characters with a family secret lurking in the background. Readers have compared it to A Christmas Story, as the protagonist is a delightful ten-year-old boy observing the imperfect adult world through innocent eyes. Several laugh-out-loud scenes are skillfully interspersed with the seriousness of the tensions looming within the family. The novel is highly cinematic with beautiful locations and elegant characters. Set in the 1960s, the possibilities for costume design showcasing the transition from 1950s cool to 1960s hippie should appeal in a similar way to MadMen. Viewers will be taken on a frenetic journey of laughter and pain in this entertaining family movie, ideal for the holidays.