Barrytown (franchise)

Barrytown is a fictional town in upstate New York, primarily known as the setting for a series of comic novels by American author Bill Griffith, and subsequently, a feature film. The "Barrytown Trilogy" comprises Nobody's Fool (1988), Straight Man (1997), and Somebody's Fool (2023), all featuring Donald "Sully" Sullivan as the protagonist.

The Barrytown depicted in the novels is a working-class, post-industrial town facing economic decline and social challenges. It's characterized by a strong sense of community, but also by a degree of cynicism and resignation to its fate. The novels explore themes of aging, family dynamics, relationships, and the struggles of everyday life in a small town grappling with larger societal shifts.

The 1994 film Nobody's Fool, directed by Robert Benton and starring Paul Newman, is based on the first novel in the series. While the film was largely shot in Beacon, New York, it captures the spirit of the fictional Barrytown through its portrayal of the characters and the town's atmosphere.

The character of Sully is a recurring figure, portrayed as a somewhat flawed but ultimately relatable individual. His interactions with other residents of Barrytown form the core of the narrative, highlighting the interconnectedness of their lives.

The success of the novels and the film has solidified Barrytown as a recognizable fictional location, representing a specific type of small-town American experience.