Our film
and book reviewer, Cheri Rosenberg reviewsA Home at the End of the World
Cheri will be traveling to New Orleans in June of this year to be on a panel with Lori L. Lake, hosted by the Golden Crown Literary Society—its first annual GCLS literary convention.
Cheri is on the panel, "The Last Word: Writing Effective Book Reviews" moderated by Lori Lake. Participants include Cheri Rosenberg, Nann Dunne, Arlene Germain, and Therese Szymanski.
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A Home at
the End of the World DVD 2004Review by Cheri Rosenberg
"A Home at the End of the World," written by Michael Cunningham and directed by Michael Mayer, is a poignant film about a cheerful, truly selfless and endearing boy who wants everyone to be happy. The film follows the life of Bobby Morrow from 1967 through 1982.
Growing up in Cleveland, Bobby (Andrew Chalmers) is impressionable, innocent, and admires his involved older brother, Carlton (Ryan Donowho). They have a close relationship even though there is a significant age difference. Carlton gives Bobby lessons in drug use and tells his pre-pubescent brother it’s time he experiences the joys of sex. The most valuable lesson Carlton teaches him is that there is goodness in the world and there is nothing to fear. At the tender age of nine, Bobby witnesses Carlton’s death, the result of a freak accident.
In high school, Bobby (Erik Smith) befriends shy, nerdy, Jonathan Glover (Harris Allan). He introduces Jonathan and his mother, Alice (Sissy Spacek), to their first experience with marijuana. Alice takes Bobby in when the motherless boy’s father dies. It doesn’t take long for the boys’ friendship to take the next step. A pivotal moment in the film is the natural and realistic way Bobby and Jonathan experience their first mutual sexual experience. The subject remains taboo well into adulthood…they never really talk about their relationship. Bobby attributes their fooling around to “just being kids” and even a deep kiss means nothing more than love between brothers.
At another highpoint in the film, Alice realizes that her son is gay when she finds the boys in a compromising situation. She handles the discovery in a very open-minded and truly inspiring way for a mother in 1974.
As an adult, Bobby (Colin Farrell) is still a kid, living in a man’s body. Bobby works as a baker and is still living with Jonathan’s parents long after Jonathan (Dallas Roberts) relocates to New York. Alice and Ned (Matt Frewer) must move to Arizona because of Ned’s failing health. Ned feels it’s time for Bobby to be on his own. Bobby doesn’t handle being alone very well and ends up moving to New York to live with Jonathan and his best friend, Clare (Robin Wright Penn).
The three friends become an unconventional family and have a child together. All seems ideal at their “home at the end of the world.” Bobby opens up a café, Jonathan works there, and Clare stays home to raise the baby—what could be better? They all love each other and care for one another on different levels. It’s a complicated love triangle, but one you can’t help care about.
The soundtrack, set and costume designs capture the mood at the height of the sexual revolution—hippies immersed in free love, drugs, Woodstock, and psychedelic times. The writer and director have done their homework and the film is believable. Also evident is the women’s lib movement. Alice, a typical stay-at-home mom, witnesses Clare’s freedom from conventional behavior: Clare, a free spirit and unwed mother, follows her heart, not societal constraints.
The entire cast of "A Home at the End of the World" gives noteworthy performances, particularly Colin Farrell who is wonderful at revealing the vulnerability and sweetness of Bobby. Dallas Roberts gives an outstanding performance as Jonathan, the openly gay man who looks for love in all the wrong places. Roberts is one of the highlights of the film. Academy award winning actress, Sissy Spacek, as Alice Glover is perfectly cast as Jonathan’s mother.
Don’t miss this five star nostalgic movie for its moving depiction of love, loss, and the beginnings of the change in societal and familial values during the hippie generation. I watched and enjoyed "A Home at the End of the World" three times and could easily watch it again. It’s fun, but sad too. I warn you, "A Home at the End of the World" can be a tearjerker. For those of you who enjoy a good cry, don’t miss this golden opportunity. It should be noted that this reviewer may be more emotional than most.
If you want to rent this film and you are isolated in a part of the country with crummy video and DVD rental stores, try Netflix.
