Summaries

Sam Shepard's coming of age drama about a dirt-poor 1950's-era farm family. Dad's a foul talking drunk, and Mom is desperately trying to save what's left of their family life.

This cinema version of the Sam Shepard play is set well after the mid-century. James Woods as the alcoholic farmer drives a huge beater with a rusted roof which is emblematic of the general disrepair of his farm. A lovingly tended lamb with maggots is the reverse emblem of something helpless, needy and cared for. The refrigerator is spoken to as a character, as if standing in for absent nurturing from Woods' self-centered wife. The couple have two kids who must come of age as their home is being torn apart around them and the parents pursue fantasies of "better things" offered by crook Randy Quaid. Henry Thomas as the son copes by holding on to the land and creating a poetic commentary, and the responses of his sister to the crisis become a powerful and surprising tribute to womanhood.—<abbyskl@earthling.net>

Details

Keywords
  • male nudity
  • pubic hair
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • male pubic hair
Genres
  • Drama
Release date May 4, 1995
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) R
Countries of origin United States
Language English
Filming locations Dallas, Texas, USA
Production companies August Entertainment Trimark Pictures Breakheart Films

Box office

Budget $12577385

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 42m
Color Color
Sound mix Ultra Stereo
Aspect ratio 1.33 : 1

Synopsis

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