Ithaca

Set during World War II, this film follows a young boy named Homer Macauley, who takes on the job of a bicycle telegraph messenger in a small town while his older brother is away fighting in the war. As Homer delivers messages, he encounters various townspeople, each with their own stories and struggles, which shape his understanding of life and loss. The movie marks Meg Ryan’s directorial debut and features performances by Alex Neustaedter, Sam Shepard, and Tom Hanks. While it did not receive any major awards, it offers a poignant exploration of coming-of-age themes against the backdrop of wartime America. For those interested, the film can be viewed for free on Soap2day.