The Great Santini

In 1962, Lt. Col. Wilbur 'Bull' Meechum, known as 'the Great Santini', moves his family to the quaint town of Beaufort, South Carolina. This transition marks a significant change in their lives as they try to adjust to a new environment while dealing with Meechum's domineering personality.

Lillian Meechum, Wilbur's wife, struggles with his fiery nature and heavy drinking. She works to maintain some semblance of normalcy while managing the emotional turmoil that arises from living with a strict and often unreasonable husband.

Ben Meechum discovers his passion for basketball, quickly earning a position on the school team. However, his relationship with his father complicates his passion as he faces intense pressures at home during basketball practice.

An explosive conflict arises between Ben and Meechum during practice when Ben finally manages to beat his father. This victory is met with disdain from Meechum, who reacts violently by bouncing the ball off Ben's head in frustration.

Later, Lillian attempts to mediate the tension between Ben and Meechum. She advises Ben to be more sensitive to his father's insecurities, painting a poignant picture of Meechum's struggle to maintain control over his chaotic life.

During an important school basketball game, Meechum instructs Ben to retaliate after a foul. Ben follows through, resulting in a severe injury to another player, which leads to his ejection from the game and subsequent dismissal from the team.

Amidst the turmoil, Ben forges a friendship with Toomer Smalls, a young black man facing harassment. This friendship provides Ben with solace and solidarity as they navigate the challenges presented by their prejudiced surroundings.

In a dramatic turn of events, Toomer uses a beehive to get back at his bully, Red Pettus. Tragically, during this chaos, Red accidentally shoots Toomer, leading to his untimely death and leaving a deep emotional impact on Ben and their community.

Following Toomer's death, Meechum's anger boils over as he lashes out at Ben for his actions. However, one of Meechum's fellow Marines recognizes Ben's valiant efforts to stand by his friend, showing a different perspective on the situation.

Despite the tragic events, Meechum remains emotionally disconnected from his son, unaware of Ben's sensitivity and struggles. This distance further complicates their father-son relationship as they both navigate their personal battles.

In a critical moment, Wilbur Meechum embarks on one last aerial mission. During this mission, his plane experiences engine failure, forcing him to make the grave decision to crash into the ocean rather than risking lives on land.

The Meechum family gathers for a heartfelt funeral service in Beaufort, as they mourn the loss of Wilbur. This solemn event marks the end of an era for the family as they come to terms with his death.

In the aftermath of his father's death, Ben unexpectedly finds himself taking on the mantle of family leader. Fulfillment of an unspoken expectation from Meechum, Ben embraces the responsibilities that now rest on his shoulders.