That disclaimer having been made, I thought that the movie was very good. Michael Caine gave his usual wonderful performance, but I was never quite clear what accent he was trying to effect (being someone with a muddled accent myself, I am not really one to criticise on this point). The stories of the orphans of St. Clouds and the women who came for help in one way or another were very poignant. I was moved at the interplay between compassion and concern-the right to life/abortion debate (perhaps the central ideological pivot point in the novel and the movie) is presented in an interesting way, with just a small tendency to get preachy on one side or the other. To a large extent, this is never really resolved; while Homer in the end realises that in the adult world there are rarely black-and-white issues, but rather shades of gray, one does not know in the movie if he is really persuaded to his mentor's view.

The Cider House Rules (referring firstly to the notice tacked to the wall of one of the lodgings) serves as a metaphor for the entire film. Who made these rules? What do they really mean? What purpose do they serve? Can't we make our own rules? I found this metaphor personally meaningful, for, as a theology student, these are questions I ask and am asked on a routine basis. What authority do rules written by others have on me? on society?

This story is also one of vocation, of finding one's life's calling, a pursuit near to my heart as I prepare to enter the ministry. I find that my resistance to being pigeon-holed is similar to Homer's. He resisted the automatic assumption that he was a doctor, only to find in the course of his life that he was in fact called to be a doctor. Often when one tries to run away from a vocation, one runs into its arms in any case.

The different family situations (Rose and her father, the flyer and his, the orphanage) shows that family and community exist on many different levels. The interactions and easy acceptance of these situations is perhaps a bit of a stretch, but the interplay shows that the traditional nuclear family was more of an ideal than a realisation.

I loved the scenery, and the cinematography was very well done, but I have a slight irritation at the depiction of New England as being covered in fall-coloured foliage all year round. New Hampshire is one of my favourite holiday spots, and many is the time that I've been there that, lovely as it is, there was not a red-coloured or gold-coloured tree to be seen.

This story essentially is one about love for the unloved, the overall love for humanity, of one making one's way in a confusing world, and trying to protect the vulnerable while allowing them freedom to grow, and an infusing of a sense of worth in those whom the world would otherwise consider worthless, as exemplified in the good doctor's nightly bidding: `Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.'

P.S. Watch for John Irving's cameo in the movie, too.

the cider house rules
Review date: 2005-11-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

What can i Say! This is the only movie that made me cry 3 times and once in the first 30 minutes!

You must watch this-it is an absolute gem! Unforgettable!

5 stars...*****

The Cider House Rules
Review date: 2005-11-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

“Cider House Rules” is a moving and atmospheric film which takes two extremely contentious subject matters, abortion and incest, and weaves a touching storyline about them.

St Cloud’s is a remote orphanage set in rural Maine. Dr Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine) runs the orphanage on a shoestring budget with only two matronly nurses to help him. He names one orphaned child Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) and after a couple of failed adoption attempts it looks like Homer will be adopted by the orphanage itself and Dr Larch sets about training Homer to take over his duties. Although having undergone no medical training at all Homer proves himself to be just as capable physician as Dr Larch, although on the question of abortion the two men greatly differ.

One day a young couple arrive at the orphanage, he’s a USAF Pilot and she’s “in the club”, for Homer on the other hand this spells an escape out of the home. The pilot, Wally Worthington’s parents own a large apple plantation and on the drive away from the orphanage he offers Homer a job as a picker.

Homer is delivered to the plantation where he is given a bunk in the barn alongside the other pickers, a nomadic group of immigrants who travel up and down the east coast picking the various fruits of the seasons. The leader of this motley crew is Mr Rose, a welcoming but also dangerous looking man who is accompanied by his daughter, the enigmatically named Rose Rose. With Wally sent away to fly the “Burma Run” his girlfriend Candy Kendall (Charlize Theron) starts spending more and more time with Homer and a lovely gentle love story between the two of them starts to develop.

In many ways for all the social and moral dilemmas that the “Cider House Rules” throws up, it doesn’t actually answer any of them or even attempt to answer them. In the case of abortion it shows the opposing views of Homer and Dr Larch but in the case of incest it presents a rather confusing picture. The film works best in its sentimental and romantic views on life. The developing love story between Homer and Candy is gently sweet and classically romantic and excellently presented.

The performances are fantastic, Tobey Maguire shows a competence and skill beyond his years and Charlize Theron is delightful. Delroy Lindo deserves special mention for his portrayal of Mr Rose, who is both monster and nice guy all in one. The children of the orphanage also put in performances of great skill, especially Kieran Culkin. Michael Caine won a best supporting actor Oscar for this performance, which I would maybe argue is not his best ever, but is a fine turn without any doubt.

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