Growing Up Smith (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Smith was banished to India after his parents discovered his sister in a romantic encounter with a boy. Their fury at this transgression resulted in Smith being punished by being sent back to India, separating him from his friends and Amy.

Foreshadowing: The tension between traditional Indian values and American cultural influences had been building throughout the film.

• banishment
• india
• family punishment
• sister

Smith's father became jealous because Smith formed a strong bond with Butch, the all-American cowboy next door. This relationship represented everything the father opposed about American culture, and seeing his son connect so deeply with this opposite figure threatened his grip on Smith's cultural identity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes showed Smith embracing American customs like eating KFC and dressing like Tony Manero, which already created tension with his father's traditional values.

• jealousy
• father
• butch
• cultural conflict

During the hunting trip, Butch was injured while chasing a deer. Smith showed bravery in the face of danger and managed to help Butch, which earned him local admiration and made him a town hero.

Foreshadowing: Smith's fascination with Butch as an all-American hero had been established earlier when he developed a crush on Amy and admired her father's cowboy lifestyle.

• hunting
• injury
• butch
• heroism

The film doesn't specify the exact reason Amy's family moved away, but the timing suggests it was a planned relocation that created emotional turmoil for both Smith and Amy, forcing them to confront their feelings before the separation.

Foreshadowing: The move was foreshadowed by the general uncertainty of their small-town life and the cultural tensions already present in the neighborhood.

• amy
• move away
• separation

Smith lost his beloved wife to an unforeseen medical complication. This devastating loss occurred sometime after he became a successful neurosurgeon in India, adding significant heartbreak to his adult life.

Foreshadowing: The film briefly mentions this tragedy as part of the bittersweet nature of Smith's journey through adulthood.

• wife death
• loss
• neurosurgeon

After being sent back to India as a child, Smith channeled his experiences and intelligence into mastering medicine. He eventually became a successful neurosurgeon, suggesting he found purpose and achievement through dedication to his craft despite the upheaval in his childhood.

Foreshadowing: Smith's journey from curious 10-year-old to accomplished professional showed his drive to succeed despite cultural displacement.

• neurosurgeon
• career
• india
• success

Smith returned to his hometown in America after 19 years, motivated by a desire to reconnect with his past, his old friends, and particularly Amy. The return represents his attempt to reclaim the connections and sense of belonging that were interrupted when he was banished as a child.

Foreshadowing: The film's ending emphasizes Smith's hope to reunite with Amy, showing that unresolved feelings from his childhood remained important to him.

• return
• hometown
• reunion
• amy

During Halloween, Smith's family had a humorous debate over the proper use of squash for decoration. This scene illustrated the generational gap and differing cultural perspectives between Smith's immigrant parents and their Americanized surroundings.

Foreshadowing: This moment highlighted the ongoing cultural clash that defined Smith's childhood in suburban America.

• halloween
• squash
• cultural clash

Smith succumbed to the forbidden pleasure of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken as a symbolic act of rebellion against his family's strict traditions. This moment represented his pull toward American culture and his desire to fit in with his peers, even if it meant defying his parents' values.

Foreshadowing: This act of rebellion was an early example of Smith's internal struggle between his Indian heritage and his attraction to American customs.

• kfc
• vegetarian
• rebellion
• forbidden

Butch intervened when Smith was attempting a desperate bike ride to reunite with Amy, who was on the verge of running away. Butch's intervention altered the course of events, likely preventing a potentially dangerous situation for both children.

Foreshadowing: Butch had been established as the protective, all-American father figure throughout the film.

• butch
• bike
• amy
• intervention

When Butch was injured during the hunting trip, Smith demonstrated unexpected bravery and managed to assist him in the dangerous situation. This act of courage earned Smith local admiration and made him a hero in the town's eyes.

Foreshadowing: Smith's admiration for Butch as an all-American hero had been building throughout his childhood.

• help
• injury
• courage
• hunting

When Smith returned after 19 years, he discovered that Amy had remained in her grandmother's house, where she was teaching fourth grade and navigating life as a single mother. She had stayed connected to their shared hometown despite the passage of time.

Foreshadowing: The film's hopeful ending suggests their childhood connection had lasting significance for both characters.

• amy
• teacher
• single mother
• reunion