Coming of Age Issues

¶ … James Gray's The Yards is a film reminiscent of a Greek tragedy with its principal characters caught up, helpless, in a web woven by fate. Yet, the film has intrinsic value as it does move its audience into reflecting on how Leo, the film's main protagonist, could have possibly chosen his own destiny if only he had received the proper guidance as he faced several 'coming of age' issues.

In fact, it could be interpreted that the very opening of the film hints as much given the symbolism inherent in the scene where a subway train emerges from a tunnel into daylight. The movement of the train from darkness into light symbolizes not just Leo's hopes for a stable and respectable, law abiding future but almost a promise of it through the light representing hope and wisdom. In line with this interpretation is Wahlberg's styling of Leo's character as a subdued, uneducated youth as against a street-smart punk kid.

All the material for molding into a fine, upright citizen providing his 'coming of age' issues is handled right! Of course, Leo starts off with a disadvantage in so much that he is uneducated and to that extent deprived of the possible knowledge and wisdom that just may have given him the ability to make a more informed and wise choice in agreeing to Frank's offer to help him train as a machinist.

In the same vein, an education may also have helped Leo realize the inadvisability of trusting Willy again especially after spending 16 months in prison for taking the blame on behalf of Willy and his other friends for auto theft.

Implicit in Leo's misguided choices in handling his 'coming of age' issues is the pride that makes him refuse Frank's offer to help him financially through the period of training and apprenticeship required to hold a machine job, choosing instead to fall prey to the temptation of immediate money that is dangled in front of him by Willy. Leo's tragedy lies not just in his own wrong decisions but perhaps more so in the fact that he does not receive the proper counseling by his family.

For instance, his uncle Frank could well have been far more forthcoming on the risks associated with Leo's working with Willy. Of course, Leo's situation does invite genuine sympathy by virtue of the fact that he has a loving but ailing mother who though she wishes the best for her son ends up inadvertently being a major cause behind Leo's taking the easy way out to earn money and look after her.

As Burstyn herself reveals "...Val has brought up her son alone...creates certain problems for a young man and.