This was beautifully written and obviously heartfelt Nat, I enjoyed this film also and you captured its essence and meaning in a way I have never come across before. Another favorite film about small town childhood, lighter in tone, is Breaking Away. My first essay here on Medium was also about childhood, my own, in suburban New Jersey. Here it is, should it be of interest. https://medium.com/@paolomaglione/all-the-space-i-ever-needed-11e68030a70f