2.4 min readBy Published On: December 6th, 2023Categories: Features1 Comment on Good Will Hunting – The Southie Factor

26 years ago, Good Will Hunting premiered…and the rest is history.

Good Will Hunting put us on the map South Boston was always an under-the-radar, sometimes misunderstood, Irish Catholic working-class neighborhood of Boston.  After Good Will Hunting debuted in movie theaters, people from all over the world caught a glimpse of Southie and fell in love.  The story of the broken but lovable orphan/janitor/math genius from Southie, Will Hunting (Matt Damon) and his struggles coming to grip with the reality that he is extraordinary and deserves happiness.  Through sessions with therapist Sean Maguire (also from South Boston – played by Robin Williams) – Will learns that his shitty childhood was “not his fault.”

Back in 1997, the world caught a glimpse of what I understood and maybe even took for granted sometimes – the salt of the earth, generous, hilarious, and wonderful characters that make up South Boston.  Growing up in Southie, I had many encounters with variations of Will Hunting and Chuckie Sullivan (Ben Affleck).  There was a quality about them – a look, an expression, the scrappiness, the sense of humor – something that was comfortable and comforting at the same time.  Those boys were home.  They were raised like me and I recognized it in their mannerisms and expressions.

Now, watching Good Will Hunting, I identify more with Robin Williams’ character – Sean Maguire.  His kindness, his strength, his pride, and his conviction to stand up for what is right make me see my husband, my father, my brother, and so many other men from South Boston.  There is something almost intangible about this quality of being from South Boston, but I recognize it.  I recognize it in a stranger at the airport.  I recognize it sitting at a conference in another city – that person is from Southie.  I can see from a mile away, pulling me in like a magnet.

Good Will Hunting was able to capture that spirit and show it to the world as something simple, good, and endearing.  You wanted someone like Sean Maguire from Southie on your side.

When they were filming Good Will Hunting here in South Boston, the entire cast was visible all over town.  Damon and Affleck were not big stars yet, but Williams was, and he was one of the most down-to-earth and generous guys you’d ever want to meet.  He fit in, and he felt like family.  He posed for countless pictures, signed endless autographs, gave hugs and handshakes, and he even tended bar at L Street Tavern. He was one of us.

When Williams won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Good Will Hunting, he gave an emotional acceptance speech and gave Southie a shout-out.  Williams thanked “the cast and crew—especially the people of South Boston,” saying, “You’re a can of corn—you’re the best!”  I couldn’t agree more.

One Comment

  1. Anonymous August 14, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    Very nice article

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