Life as a House

Life as a House is a 2001 American drama film produced and directed by Irwin Winkler. The screenplay by Mark Andrus focuses on a man who is anxious to repair his relationship with his exwife and teenaged son after he is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Liberated from a job he hated and funded by his severance package, George decides the time has come to demolish the ramshackle home left to him by his father and replace it with a house more in keeping with the ambiance of his upscale neighborhood. He decides to enlist the aid of his son, angstridden and selfloathing Sam Hayden Christensen. Sam is alienated from his stepfather Peter Jamey Sheridan, and his mother Robin Kristin Scott Thomas finds herself unable to cope. Against his will, Sam must spend the summer with George, who has opted not to reveal his terminal condition, and help him with what will be the final project of his life. Sam is not happy to be forced to stay with George and initially makes it a point not to help him with the houses construction. Sam is also unhappy with the rough facilities, which include a toilet in the common area and an outdoor shower. When George refuses to give Sam any money unless he works for it, Sam toys with becoming a male prostitute, however he is nearly caught and forced to flee from his first encounter. This leads him to steal Georges Vicodin.As time passes, George slowly reconnects with Sam. Robin decides to assist as well, and she begins to find herself rediscovering the man she once loved. Also joining in the construction are Alyssa Jena Malone, Sams classmate who lives in the house next door with her mother Colleen Mary Steenbergen local policeman Kurt Walker Scott Bakula, Georges childhood friend Sams young halfbrothers Adam Mike Weinberg and Ryan Scotty Leavenworth various neighbors and eventually Peter, even after separating from Robin when she tells him that her feelings for George have reawakened. Eventually, George tells Robin of his disease, sending her into shock. That same night, he tells Sam, who reacts with feelings of betrayal and accusing George of being selfish. George responds by saying No, Sam, I wasnt trying to get you to like me. I was trying to get you to love me, making Sam even angrier at the be

Source: Wikipedia