1993 film drama starring Ethan Hawke and Vincent Spano based on a true story (5)
I believe the answer is:
alive
(Other definitions for alive that I've seen before include "Teeming (with)" , "Animated, on the ball" , "Animated and kicking" , "Aware" , "''Crying cockles and mussels, ..., ..., oh'' (Molly Malone)" .)