Ordinary People (1980)

Release date: 1981-02-26
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Robert Redford
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Wildwood Enterprises
Genre: Drama
Rating: 7.7/10
Length: 2h 4min

Storyline

Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being supportive to Conrad. Calvin is trapped between the two trying to hold the family together.

Plot Keywords

psychiatrist, mother son relationship, based on novel, father son relationship, psychoanalysis, dysfunctional family, family crisis, family conflict, suicide, suburbia, death by drowning, attempted suicide, existentialism, directorial debut, psychological, psychological drama, affection, title same as book, 1970s, illinois

Short Review

The director's contribution is reticent and unobtrusive; his aim, not surprising perhaps in an actor, had been to give she stage wholly to the text and the performances; and both are, certainly, exemplary.