Three Wishes

The film alternates between 1955, when a single mother and her two boys navigate wartime absence and a mysterious drifter, and the present day, where adult Tom Holman faces financial strain and tries to reconnect with his family. In 1955, the town feels tight-knit and cautious, while the present-day timeline centers on modern family life and the consequences of old wishes. The juxtaposition of two eras drives the film’s exploration of fatherhood, memory, and renewal.

The story moves between a present-day small town and a 1955 American town, anchored by everyday locations like a family home, a cemetery, and a park where a July 4th celebration unfolds. The cemetery scenes and the family home ground the emotional core, while the park setting provides a backdrop for communal moments and magic-infused events. These places establish a contrast between wartime absence, recovery, and the comfort of home.

🏡 Family Bonds

The core of the story is the pull of family—biological, surrogate, and chosen. Jack becomes a paternal figure for Tom, while Tom learns to value the family he already has. The 1955 family unit grapples with absence, loyalty, and the healing potential found in closeness. Together, the family navigates care, responsibility, and the desire to belong.

🪄 Wish & Magic

The plot pivots on wishes that blur the line between fantasy and reality. Jack’s presence, the genie-like intervention with Betty Jane, and the revelations of what truly makes Tom happy underscore how desires shape choices. Magic acts as a catalyst for understanding what a person truly needs rather than what they want. The film ultimately asks whether wishes can redeem or redefine a life.

🕊️ Loss & Reconciliation

Loss threads through both timelines—from a missing father in the Korean War to the real death of Jack years later. The story examines how memory and grief shape present relationships and self-perception. Reconciliation emerges through acceptance, forgiveness, and choosing happiness with the family one has. The finale reframes loss as a path to inner peace and renewed connection.