ordinary people

no. 57 Ordinary People

Although dated, it fantastic to see a realist approach to family in crisis (they're still in crisis even though, the "crises" have past) and a decent take on modern talk therapy. This marked the directorial debut for Robert Redford and having seen so many of his movies, this definitely shows his stamp, albeit the earliest.

This really is your typical take on upper middle class guilt, blame and the effort made to make everything appear as normal as possible when in denial over death and suicide. Timothy Hutton is fabulous and fierce in his take as a younger brother who in all senses agrees he was the lesser brother, post-suicide/hospital, awkward injection of a "new" him into his "old" life. You don't go back to being the same person, he can't face his friends or really confront the issue with his family. Judd Hirsch plays a hard nosed but real therapist, who challenges Conrad to search for the answers within his feelings. He brings Conrad to the conclusion that he cannot change his mother, only accept her for the cold person she has become. Donald Sutherland really toes the line between caring family man and coping with his own neuroses.

I'm SO glad that a week on the couch offered me this gem I might not have seen.