Far From Heaven is a film directed by Todd Haynes and it pays homage to Douglas Sirk. Mr Sirk was famous for making melodramas in the 50’s with a bit of feminine touch.
The film is set in the 50’s Hartford, Connecticut and mainly revolves around one family, the Whitakers. In the opening shots you see an aerial view of the town with the scene closing in on Cathy Whitaker picking up her daughter from the ballet class.
Everything seems heavenly with the Whitakers. Cathy Whitaker has two perfect children, a boy and a girl, and a loving high-flying sales executive husband with a nice house and plenty of dosh.
To the rest of Hartford, Cathy Whitaker is a model suburban wife, not only is she a perfect wife and a mother but also she is a very kind and gentle soul and unlike most white folks she doesn’t hate the blacks.
Alas, this suburban heaven is not to last, one day Cathy finds her almost perfect husband not so perfect when she sees him kissing another man. Mr Whitaker is a homosexual.
To make sense of her life Cathy falls for a black man, her gardener. Although the relationship is platonic and Cathy thinks nothing of it, just the mere fact that she is seen talking to him in public sort of scandalises her and she is ostracised from the hub of the society that she was so accustomed to.
From here onwards the life Cathy was so comfortable with starts falling apart as her husband begins to drift from her and the society shuns her.
~~My Thoughts~~
In my opinion Cathy Whitaker is like Mary Archer or Hillary Clinton, her husband drags her through the mud yet she has a strong desire to make her marriage work. Perhaps their sexual life has always been non-existent yet she complains to nobody.
Julianne Moore gives exceptional performance as Cathy, a woman not only wronged by her husband but the society as well just because she is seen in the company of her black gardener, a role brilliantly played by Dennis Haysbert. Dennis Quaid (Frank Whitaker) is at his best as a homosexual man fighting his inner demons yet at the same time succumbing to them. Some of the stuff he does is just laughable. Perhaps Meg was right in leaving him in real life.
The simple plot is nullified by strong performances from the main characters although it was weird to see a film with the 50’s attitudes when the world has moved on so much in terms of race issues, women’s lib and the way homosexuality is accepted today.
Great care is taken to provide the 50’s authentic atmosphere with characters mannerisms, the way they talk dress. The film uses limited colours although visually it is very clear.
In conclusion I would suggest that Far From Heaven is not my cup of tea as it is mainly aimed at women. For those of you who like family dramas this is for you, although the ending is a bit flat.
~~Movie Details~~
Julianne Moore ...Cathy Whitaker Dennis Quaid ...Frank Whitaker Dennis Haysbert ...Raymond Deagan Patricia Clarkson ...Eleanor Fine Viola Davis ...Sybil James Rebhorn ...Dr. Bowman Bette Henritze ...Mrs. Leacock Michael Gaston ...Stan Fine Ryan Ward ...David Whitaker Lindsay Andretta ...Janice Whitaker Jordan Puryear ...Sarah Deagan
Written and directed by Todd Haynes
Certificate 12A. USA. 107 minutes.
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
I can't stand the idea that some films are 'women's' films. Glad to see that though the civil rights movement has moved on since the fifties, sexist presumptions are still alive and well. Next you'll be calling it a 'chick flick'. Nice review though.
JessL 21.09.2003 19:03
I think I'd enjoy this one. Good op. x
jillmurphy 21.09.2003 13:44
Oh, nice opinion there. I really like Julianne Moore, so might give it a view at some point.
Far from Heavenis a uniquely beautiful film from one of the smartest and most ... more
idiosyncratic of contemporary directors, Todd Haynes (SafeandVelvet Goldmine). It takes the lush 1950s visual style of so-called women's pictures (particularly those of Dougl...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Far from Heavenis a uniquely beautiful film from one of the smartest and most ... more
idiosyncratic of contemporary directors, Todd Haynes (SafeandVelvet Goldmine). It takes the lush 1950s visual style of so-called women's pictures (particularly those of Dougl...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
In the fall of 1957 in Connecticut Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) is returning home from ... more
a day of errands. Her husband Frank (Dennis Quaid) is expected home for a dinner engagement. There's only one problem no one has heard from Frank all afternoo...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
It is the fall of 1957 in Connecticut, Cathy Whitaker is returning home from a day of ... more
errands. Her husband, Frank is expected home for a dinner engagement. There's only one problem, no one has heard from Frank all afternoon.What begins as a curious sna...
Advantages: Moore, cinematography, moving, melodrama (if that's a good thing) Disadvantages: wooden acting, stylized, melodrama (if you're not into that)
OKkaraoke 13.06.2003 (13.06.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Far From Heaven (DVD)
Advantages: 1950's Slice-of-life, realistic, thought provoking, the acting, the location, the script, etc. Disadvantages: Time seems to move a bit strangely at points in this movie, some may say that its a bit of a satire of itself
TheChocolateLady 11.01.2003 (24.03.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Far From Heaven (DVD)
Advantages: 1950's Slice-of-life, realistic, thought provoking, the acting, the location, the script, etc. Disadvantages: Time seems to move a bit strangely at points in this movie, some may say that its a bit of a satire of itself
TheChocolateLady 11.01.2003 (24.03.2003)
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Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Far From Heaven (DVD)
Advantages: Moore, cinematography, moving, melodrama (if that's a good thing) Disadvantages: wooden acting, stylized, melodrama (if you're not into that)
OKkaraoke 13.06.2003 (13.06.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Far From Heaven (DVD)
![Far From Heaven [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78502395.jpg "Far From Heaven [DVD] [2003]")
Sep 21st, 2003
very helpful by (100%):
