Rich in Love (1993)

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers (WGA):

Josephine Humphreys (novel)
Alfred Uhry (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 March 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The life of a teenager (Kathryn Erbe), in her last year of high school in Charleston, South Carolina...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Warren Odom
Jill Clayburgh	...	Helen Odom
Kathryn Erbe	...	Lucille Odom
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Billy McQueen
Piper Laurie	...	Vera Delmage
Ethan Hawke	...	Wayne Frobiness
Suzy Amis	...	Rae Odom
Alfre Woodard	...	Rhody Poole
J. Leon Pridgen II	...	Tick
Dave Hager	...	Parnell Meade
Ramona Ward	...	Sharon
Wayne Dehart	...	Sam Poole
D.L. Anderson	...	Inn Receptionist
Jennifer Banco	...	Horse Carriage Driver
Anthony Burke	...	Singer

Runtime:

UK:105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #31794) | Iceland:L | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Company:

MGM-Pathé Communications Co.

Soundtrack:

Blue Moon

Wonderful film

This wonderful film explores matters of the heart neither in a sentimental way nor in a cynical way--rather honestly, giving respect to the feelings, hopes and thoughts of the characters. Set in present-day South Carolina, Albert Finney portrays a retired contractor, who appears to have retired from life before he retired from his job. His performance is so spot-on as to be transparent, allowing the viewer to enter completely into his character and almost "be him." The story opens with his wife leaving him, and the core of the film focusses on how he and his younger daughter, played by Kathryn Erbe, deal with this unexpected event. Miss Erbe is as good as Mr. Finney and surpasses him in delineating a "real" Southern human being, not the typical stereotype or the northerner in disguise (see: Susan Sarandon in The Client or Charles Mitchell in Cookie's Fortune--good performances but about as southern as Sherlock Holmes). This is very much an ensemble film, with good performances also coming from Suzy Amis, Piper Laurie, Alfre Woodard, and Ethan Hawke. I particularly liked Miss Amis who has a difficult partto create, sustain and evolve in a plausible fashion. She walks the actor's proverbial "tightrope" beautifully. The plot has several strands, including Miss Erbe's dealing with budding sexuality (she plays a graduating high school senior), the older sister's arrival on the scene, and others you MUST see for yourself. This movie was directed by Bruce Beresford and should have received a much wider audience when released in theatres. But its subtlety, lack of sex and violence, and its refusal to sacrifice quality for the chance of a wider audience. I strongly recommend this film.