I am still working through my thoughts on the effects this film had on me and on society. The film challenged one very ethical topic being abortion. Is it right or wrong? Homer states in the movie that he won't judge the Dr. for doing an abortion, but he won't do one. At least, not until he is presented with a different sceanio in which he offers it, but he makes it the woman's choice. I think that is the strongest theme of this movie, not only the choice of abortion, but the choice in life all together. Every person that came to the orphanage looking for a child to adopt, abort, or give up had a choice to make. When Homer left the orphanage, it was his choice, just like it was his choice to return. When he got involved with the girl, he knew it was wrong, but he made the choice to go along with it. That was an interesting way of responding to Homer's earlier comment in the movie when he said that he didn't understand why people weren't more responsible in making their choices and being more careful. Once he was introduced to life outside the orphanage, it opened up a whole lot of life choices, even which apple to pick or which lobster was ready.
The actual rules written on the wall are still a bit of a mystery. Sure, everyone can choose to live by the stated rules but Homer attempted to read the rules a couple times before he actually read all the way through them and then were finally burned in the stove with the impression that people can't make rules for others when they don't know what they are dealing with. The same applies with the situation of Rose and Mr. Rose. That scenario would impact anyone watching the film and was definitely a moment in the film when you gasp. For fragile Homer, who is not supposed to get worked up to blatently address Mr. Rose and outright ask if he was sleeping with his daughter was a bold move and brought more substance to Homer's character as well as to Mr. Rose as he said don't talk to what you don't know anything about. What would the world be like if people stayed out of other people's business that didn't pertain to them? Sometimes good, but sometimes bad.
The film as a whole encompassed all the pieces from the setting, characters, plot, images, cinematic techniques, sound, etc. The setting was quite appropriate in each different setting. The apple farm with the Cidar House put the viewer there, right down to the details of the boards on the floor. The lobster farm setting on the ocean and the scenes where the discussions were often about doing nothing and wait and see. I felt there was irony there as the ocean often does nothing or wait and see as something will inevitably change. Of course, the setting of the orphanage was one of solitude and pain, but at the same time there was happiness. They were all part of a family, maybe not a traditional one, but they were loved just the same.
The characters were all played very well. They didn't overlap or overpower one another. Each story line was credible and acted well. The lighting was appropriate throughout, always dimmer at the orphanage and the hallways that were always clear each time a patient was rolled down one. The sound didn't play a huge role in this film for me, it seemed more subtle throughout which seemed appropriate because there weren't any quick changes to prepare for. The one sound that stood out was when the King Kong film would always stop at the same time and how the last time it stopped, so did the boy's breathing, which was also a significant sound throughout.
The cinematography was good and the makeup and costumes were fitting for each character. It helped identify each one accordingly by the clothes. The color was not excessively bold throughout but there were splashes throughout. The blood from the Dr.'s hand when he broke the glass as he passed away. The red and green apples. The orphanage had color too, but most were all muted colors adding to the effects of the orphanage.
I think the director did a good job with this movie. I felt the style was grave, serious, tragic, and heavy. I think the theme was well thought out and it will have a universal affect on film and society.
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