Recent PostsFar From Heaven
Directed by
Todd Haynes
Produced by
Jody Patton
Christine Vachon
Written by
Todd Haynes
Starring
Julianne Moore
Dennis Quaid
Dennis Haysbert
Patricia Clarkson
Ryan Ward
Music by
Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography
Edward Lachman
Editing by
James Lyons
Distributed by
Focus Features
Release date(s)
September 1, 2002
Running time
107 mins
Country
France
United States
Language
English
Budget
$13,500,000 (estimated)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile
Far from Heaven is a 2002 film written and directed by Todd Haynes and starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Ryan Ward, Dennis Haysbert, and Patricia Clarkson.
The film tells the story of Cathy Whitaker, a 1950s housewife, living in suburban Hartford as she sees her seemingly perfect life begin to fall apart. It is done in the style of a 1950s, Douglas Sirk film (especially All That Heaven Allows and Imitation of Life), dealing with complex contemporary issues such as race, sexuality and class.
The film was nominated for several Academy Awards: for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Julianne Moore), Best Original Screenplay (Todd Haynes), Best Cinematography (Edward Lachman), and Best Original Score (Elmer Bernstein).
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Plot
Set in suburban 1950s Connecticut, the film is about Cathy Whitaker (Moore), the perfect wife, mother, and homemaker. Cathy is married to Frank (Quaid), a successful executive at Magnatech. The film begins with Cathy preparing for her annual party with her best friend, Eleanor Fine (Clarkson). One day, Cathy spies an unknown black man walking through her garden. He turns out to be Raymond Deagon (Haysbert), the son of Cathy’s late gardener.
Julianne Moore as Cathy Whitaker and Dennis Haysbert as Raymond Deagan
Frank is soon being forced to stay late at the office, swamped with work. One evening, however, we see him enter a gay bar. Meanwhile, Cathy and Raymond develop a friendship. On one particular night, when Frank is working late, Cathy decides to wrap up his dinner and take it to him. She walks in on him passionately kissing another man. Frank confesses having had “problems” as a young man, and agrees to see psychiatrist Dr. Bowman (James Rebhorn) in the hope of being “converted back” to heterosexuality. His relationship with Cathy is irreparably strained, however, and he turns to alcohol. Unable to comprehend the destruction of her marriage, Cathy turns to Raymond for comfort. She sees him at an art show, where she spends much of her day talking to him, setting the town ablaze with gossip.
As Cathy sees her once idyllic world falling apart, she begins to fall in love with Raymond, and their evident relationship has unpleasant consequences for him and his daughter. At the same time, Frank, unable to suppress his homosexual desires, falls in love with another man and seeks a divorce from Cathy.
Cast
- Julianne Moore – Cathy Whitaker
- Dennis Quaid – Frank Whitaker
- Dennis Haysbert – Raymond Deagan
- Patricia Clarkson – Eleanor Fine
- Ryan Ward – David Whitaker
- Viola Davis – Sybil
- James Rebhorn – Dr. Bowman
- Celia Weston – Mona Lauder
- Lindsay Andretta – Janice Whitaker
- Jordan Puryear – Sarah Deagan
Style
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Far From Heaven is made entirely in the style of many ’50s films, notably those of Douglas Sirk. Haynes created color pallettes for every scene in the film and was very careful and particular in his choices. Haynes emphasizes experience with color, in such scenes as one in which Cathy, Eleanor, and their friends are all dressed in reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and greens. Haynes also plays with the color green, using it to light forbidden and mysterious scenes. He employs this effect both in the scene where Frank visits the gay bar and when Cathy goes to the restaurant in the black part of town.
Haynes also uses shots and angles that would have been standard in Sirk’s films and era. Cinematographer Edward Lachman created the 1950s “look” with the same type of lighting equipment (incandescent), lighting techniques, and lens filters that would have been used in a 1950s-era melodrama. The script employs over-the-top, melodramatic dialogue, and Elmer Bernstein’s score is reminiscent of those he had composed 40 and 50 years earlier.
In the commentary, Haynes was also influenced by Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. Like Fassbinder’s film, Haynes portrays feelings of alienation and awkwardness. For example, instead of cutting to the next scene, Haynes would linger on a character for a few seconds longer than comfortable to the viewer, just like the technique Fassbinder used. Also, there are a few scenes which are an obvious homage to Ali like the scene where Cathy and Raymond are dancing at a Black diner (in which Cathy feels very awkward) and the line “You’re beautiful” is also a direct homage to Ali.
Awards
Far From Heaven was nominated for 4 Academy Awards as well as winning 71 other awards and being nominated for another 30. In the Fourth Annual Village Voice Film Critics’ Poll, Far From Heaven was voted the best picture of 2002.
Notable awards
Academy Awards
Nominations
- Best Actress in a Leading Role – Julianne Moore
- Best Original Screenplay – Todd Haynes
- Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman
- Best Original Score – Elmer Bernstein
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Wins
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Todd Haynes
- Best Actress – Julianne Moore
- Best Supporting Actor – Dennis Quaid
- Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman
- Best Original Score – Elmer Bernstein
Nominations
- Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Clarkson
- Best Screenplay – Todd Haynes
Golden Globes
Nominations
- Best Actress in a Leading Role (Drama) – Julianne Moore
- Best Supporting Actor – Dennis Quaid
- Best Screenplay – Todd Haynes
- Best Original Score – Elmer Bernstein
Independent Spirit Awards
Wins
- Best Feature
- Best Actress -Julianne Moore
- Best Supporting Actor – Dennis Quaid
- Best Director – Todd Haynes
- Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman
National Board of Review
Wins
- Best Actress – Julianne Moore
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Wins
- Best Film
- Best Director – Todd Haynes
- Best Supporting Actor – Dennis Quaid
- Best Supporting Actress – Patricia Clarkson
- Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman
Online Film Critics Society Awards
Wins
- Best Actress – Julianne Moore
- Best Supporting Actor – Dennis Quaid
- Best Original Screenplay – Todd Haynes
- Best Cinematography – Edward Lachman
- Best Art Direction
- Best Costume Design – Sandy Powell
- Best Original Score – Elmer Bernstein
Nominations
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Todd Haynes
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Nominations
- Best Actress – Julianne Moore
- Best Supporting Actor – Dennis Quaid
Writers Guild of America Awards
Nominations
- Best Original Screenplay – Todd Haynes
Soundtrack
- See: Far from Heaven (soundtrack).
See also
- Queer Cinema
- Douglas Sirk
External links
- Far from Heaven at the Internet Movie Database
Films by Todd Haynes
Poison • Safe • Velvet Goldmine • Far from Heaven • Corporate Ghost • I’m Not There.
Shorts: Assassins: A Film Concerning Rimbaud • Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story • Dottie Gets Spanked
Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_from_Heaven”
Categories: 2002 films | American films | French films | Bisexuality-related films | Race-related films | Drama films | English-language films | Film remakes | Focus Features films | Films set in the 1950s | Films set in Connecticut | Romance filmsHidden category: Articles needing additional references from March 2008