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Far
From Heaven (15's)
Plot Summary
Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore)
seems to have the perfect life. She
is bringing up her two children and looking after her big beautiful house
in 1950’s America. She has
coffee mornings with the girls and organises and attends the social
gatherings in the community. She
ensures that everything is perfect for when her successful, influential
husband arrives home from work. But
soon it becomes apparent that all is not perfect in Cathy’s life and
that beneath the surface are some dark secrets…
Review
This drama depicts the perfect
family life but then peels the layers away to dispel the illusion of an
ideal family. Cathy’s
husband Frank (Dennis Quaid) starts working late rather than coming home
and seems to be drinking heavily. Cathy,
in spite of her best efforts, can’t seem to fulfil his needs and her own
needs go neglected.
The film also takes a look at
the ugly side of a bigoted community and when Cathy strikes up a
friendship with her black gardener, Raymond (Dennis Haysbert), the tongues
of her neighbours and friends start wagging!
The 1950’s community is extremely intolerant and racist.
The film is quiet slow and a
bit long but it is acted and filmed very well.
The rustic autumn colours of the leaves are beautifully filmed.
Perhaps the beauty of nature is acting as a comparison to the
not-so-perfect human life. The
start is cleverly filmed to suggest a contented “homely” life and even
the opening credits and music give an old-fashioned romantic impression.
Julianne Moore is excellent as
Mrs. Cathy Whitaker. Outwardly
she is the perfect wife but inside she is turmoil as she sees her ideal
world crumble in spite of her efforts.
Dennis Quaid who is usually
more of a “jeans and tee-shirt man” is convincing as the successful
1950’s businessman who is tormented by deep hidden desires.
He is moody and even aggressive.
There’s only a faint trace of his trademark grin!
Bottom
Line: This drama suffers
because it is slow moving but is very well acted and filmed.
It won’t appeal to a wide audience but is nonetheless worth a
watch.
Reviewed by Niall Quinn,
Premier Movie Reviews 2003 |