Rating: PG13
Genre:
Drama
Theatrical Release: 12/10/1999(USA)
Release Date: 08/15/2000
SubTitles: English/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French
Run Time: 125 Minutes
Flags: Mild Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Drugs), Sexual Situations, Watch With Your Teen
Distributor/Studio: Miramax
John Irving scripted this screen adaptation of his 1985 novel. Set during World War II,
The Cider House Rules concerns
Homer Wells (
Tobey Maguire), an orphan who spent most of his childhood at the St. Cloud Orphanage in rural Maine, where he grew up under the strong but affectionate care of
Dr. Wilbur Larch (
Michael Caine).
Larch has passed along his medical education to
Homer, and the young man helps the doctor care for abandoned children and the newborn babies of unwed mothers; however,
Homer refuses to assist
Larch with the illegal abortions that he performs on the side;
Homer has moral objections to abortion, while
Larch believes in the rights of the individual and sees it as his duty to keep women in need away from dangerous incompetents.
Wally Worthington (
Paul Rudd), an air-force pilot, brings his girlfriend
Candy (
Charlize Theron) to St. Cloud for an abortion, and
Homer decides to go with them when they leave, hoping to see the world; however, the three end up going no further than the state line, where
Wally's mother (
Kate Nelligan) runs an apple orchard and cider mill, and
Candy's family traps lobsters. When
Wally ships off to battle,
Homer grows closer to
Candy, and the two fall in love. But their idyllic life at the cider mill is interrupted when
Rose Rose (
Erykah Badu), a field worker at the orchard, becomes pregnant and her father, cider-house foreman
Mr. Rose (
Delroy Lindo), turns out to be the father of her unborn child. This news coupled with the death of
Dr. Larch, forces
Homer to take a long look at both his moral principles and his future. Rapper
Heavy D appears in the supporting cast as
Peaches.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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