My Giant

My Giant

Year: 1998

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Lehmann

DramaFamilyComedy

A whimsical comedy that stretches the limits of scale. When Sammy, a frazzled secret agent feeling out of place in today's high‑tech jungle, wanders into a secluded forest, he meets Max—a towering, good‑natured giant with a talent for making friends. Their unlikely partnership sparks hilarious misadventures as modern chaos meets gentle simplicity.

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Timeline & Setting – My Giant (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of My Giant (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1990s

The events unfold in a contemporary setting consistent with the late 1990s, reflecting the era’s cross-border travel and showbiz ambitions. It portrays a modern entertainment industry landscape where talent agents, directors, and star cameos shape careers. The tone blends real-world filmmaking with personal drama, rather than a historical period piece.

Location

Romania, Gallup, New Mexico

The story begins in Romania, where Max is found and raised in a monastery after adoption due to his height. It then moves to the United States, including a stop in Gallup, New Mexico, where Max’s longing for a past love drives much of the plot. The settings contrast rural monastic life with the glitz and grind of the film industry, highlighting a cross-cultural journey.

🌍 Romania 🗽 United States 🏰 Monastery

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:44

Main Characters – My Giant (1998)

Meet the key characters of My Giant (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sam 'Sammy' Kamin (Billy Crystal)

A struggling talent agent whose career and marriage are in trouble. He encounters Max after a crash and quickly sees potential for a breakout star, using Max’s longing to reunite with a past love to push him into the spotlight. His entrepreneurial drive drives much of the plot, but his choices are tested as he wrestles with loyalty to his client and to his wife. By the end, he helps Max and his own relationship find a path to reconciliation.

🎭 Talent agent ❤️ Family 🤝 Ambition

Max Zamphirescu (Gheorghe Mureșan)

An enormous Romanian man with a gentle heart who was raised in a monastery after being adopted due to his height. He dreams of visiting a long-lost love, Lilliana, and becomes a figure of inspiration for Sammy’s show-business ambitions. Max’s health is compromised by a heart condition, and his life is deeply affected by his pursuit of fame, friendship, and love.

🫶 Gentle giant ❤️ Love 🗺️ Dreamer

Lilliana Rotaru (Joanna Pacula)

Max’s long-lost paramour whose memory fuels Max’s longing and Sammy’s plans. She represents a past romance that motivates the characters’ choices, though she remains cautious about re-engaging with Max. Her presence is a catalyst for Max’s emotional arc and Sammy’s manipulation of his client’s dreams.

💖 Romance 🕊️ Memory 🌟 Catalyst

Serena Kamin (Kathleen Quinlan)

Sammy’s wife, whose relationship with him undergoes strain due to his career-driven decisions. She becomes a stabilizing force, ultimately choosing to support Sammy in reconciling their marriage. Her patience and love help anchor the human side of the story amid showbiz chaos.

💑 Partner 💪 Support 🕊️ Reconciliation

Aunt Pearl (Estelle Harris)

A supportive family figure who provides warmth and grounded perspective amid the film’s upheavals. Her presence adds a familial counterbalance to the spectacle of Hollywood dreams. Aunt Pearl embodies the steadiness and humor that keep the story human.

👵 Family 🧡 Support 🕊️ Grounding

Rose Kaminski (Doris Roberts)

A member of the Kaminski family who interacts with Sammy and his wife during the unfolding events. Her character adds familial texture to the narrative and contributes to the emotional stakes of Sammy’s decisions. She helps remind the characters of their personal roots.

👪 Family 🗣️ Interaction 💬 Support

Weller, the Movie Director (Jere Burns)

The director within the film industry who oversees Max’s role and helps shape his screen presence. He represents the professional gatekeepers of show business who decide how Max is presented to audiences. Weller’s involvement underscores the collaborative yet controlling nature of filmmaking.

🎬 Director 🧭 Gatekeeper 💡 Collaborator

Steven Seagal (Himself)

A cameo appearance where the star interacts with Sammy and considers Max for a villainous role after hearing an extract of a Shakespearean play performed by Max. His moment underscores the film’s meta-commentary on celebrity culture and casting.

⭐ cameo 🎭 Celebrity 🎬 Industry

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:44

Major Themes – My Giant (1998)

Explore the central themes of My Giant (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Identity

Max’s identity as a gentle giant clashes with how the world wants to see him as a spectacle. Sammy’s perception of Max evolves from a potential asset to a being with his own dreams and limits. The narrative explores what it means to be seen for who you are rather than for your size or use. The journey prompts both characters to confront who they are beneath the public persona.

🎬 Fame

The plot centers on turning Max into a movie villain and the price of chasing stardom. Sammy uses Max’s dream of reconnecting with a long-lost love to push him into the limelight, highlighting the opportunistic side of show business. The film questions whether fame justifies manipulation or if it should come with a responsibility to the person behind the spotlight. It also shows how industry decisions can alter lives beyond the screen.

👪 Family

Family ties anchor the emotional arc, from Sammy’s fractured marriage to the eventual reconciliation with his wife. Max’s presence creates a surrogate family for Sammy and others around him, illustrating how chosen bonds can heal what is broken. The story also centers on the idea that a family’s support can help someone pursue their dreams while staying grounded. In the end, love and loyalty prevail, stabilizing the relationships involved.

🕊️ Mortality

Max carries a heart condition that ultimately cannot be treated, giving a poignant limit to his dream. The narrative tracks his impact on others even as his life nears its end, underscoring the idea that a person’s legacy can outlive their time. His death shortly after achieving his dream emphasizes themes of sacrifice, memory, and the enduring changes he inspired in those around him. The film closes on a note that even in death, Max’s influence lives on.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:44

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My Giant Summary

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