Ordinary People is a 1980 American film drama that marked the directorial debut of Robert Redford. The story concerns the disintegration of an upper middle class family in Lake Forest, Illinois, following the death of the oldest son. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent was based upon the 1976 novel by Judith Guest.
The film was a critical and commercial success, winning that year's Academy Award for Best Picture and various other major film awards.
Synopsis
The Jarretts, an affluent family, try to return to normal life after the attempted suicide of their youngest teenage son, Conrad, who has recently come home following a four-month stay in a psychiatric hospital. Alienated from his friends and family, Conrad, having left the hospital, chooses to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Berger, who learns that the boy had been involved in a sailing accident that killed his older brother, Buck. Buck, a superior athlete and student to Conrad, clearly came first in everyone's estimation (including Conrad's). Conrad's father, Calvin, awkwardly struggles to connect with his surviving son, who is tormented by clinical depression, survivor guilt, and posttraumatic stress disorder. His wife Beth, who clearly loved Buck more, has shut off her emotions and has become obsessed with maintaining the appearance of perfection and normality.
As Conrad successfully works with Dr. Berger and learns to allow himself to have feelings, he starts dating Jeannine, a kind and nonjudgmental girl from his school choir, beginning to regain a sense of optimism. However, the suicide of a friend from the hospital, Karen, threatens to send him spiraling back into depression.
Eventually, Conrad is able to stop blaming himself for Buck's death, and realizes his mother's frailties as Dr. Berger advises him to accept her as she is. Calvin, aided by a session with Dr. Berger himself, finally begins to recognize the degree to which Beth has emotionally isolated herself, not just from Conrad, but also from Calvin himself. Calvin confronts Beth about his new feelings, telling her that he questions his love for her, and inquires whether she is capable of truly loving anyone. As Beth packs to leave, her facade is momentarily shattered by a sob, but she struggles to restore the mask.
The next morning Calvin informs Conrad that Beth has left and Conrad's first reaction is to blame himself. Calvin at first angrily rebukes Conrad for taking that attitude, but then regrets losing his temper. They talk, and continue to work through their regrets about their relationship. But now, with both having achieved some level of revelation and resolution with regard to Beth's feelings toward them, father and son are finally able to truly connect with another, and they embrace.
Cast
Reception
Robert Redford and Timothy Hutton both won Academy Awards for their respective debuts: Redford as Best Director and Hutton as Best Supporting Actor. The film marked Mary Tyler Moore's career breakout from the stereotype of the light-hearted comedienne. Moore's role was well-received and obtained a nomination for Best Actress. The film also won Best Picture for 1980.
Judd Hirsch's portrayal of Dr. Berger has also drawn praise from many in the psychiatric community as one of the rare times their profession is shown in a positive light in the movies,[1] although some consider his portrayal to be too positive, thus lending an air of one-dimensionality.[2] Hirsch was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, losing out to costar Hutton.
This was also the first of two times director Martin Scorsese (who directed that year's Raging Bull) lost the Academy Award to actors making their directorial debut (the other was ten years later with Kevin Costner on Dances with Wolves).
Ordinary People received very positive reviews from critics and currently holds a 91% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 30 reviews.[3]
Pachelbel's Canon, used as thematic and background music, enjoyed a surge in popularity as a result. It has remained popular since then.
Awards
Wins
Nominations
Notes
External links
