When the movie begins, the Jarretts seem like a typical suburban upper-middle-class
family, chatting about inconsequential things. The teenage son, Conrad
(Hutton), seems to be dealing with some sort of emotional trouble, but
it's not initially clear what.
Eventually, through flashbacks and through what's said, primarily by
other people, the viewer learns that the family is coping with the loss
of a family member. Each person copes in different ways. The father,
Calvin (Sutherland), insists on counseling for his son, who is initially
resistant but eventually agrees. The mother, Beth (Moore) believes in
avoiding discussions about the subject. And Conrad has turned all his
feelings inward, which is why he's so miserable.
An important role in this movie, although it doesn't involved much
screen time, is that of Conrad's counselor, Dr. Tyrone C. Berger (Hirsch).
He helps Conrad to deal with his feelings of loss and guilt.
When I first watched this movie, I wrote of the film in a capsule review,
"A
heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story of a family dealing with
the loss of a son, this film is an amazing achivement in the power of
realism." Rewatching it, I still feel the film is a marvelous
work. The subtlety of the writing and the skillful acting make this
story come alive and give it a huge impact. Redford reportedly agreed
to direct the film because it reminded him of how his own family talked
around issues. No doubt, that personal experience helped guide him as
a director.
Although Hutton's father, actor Jim Hutton, passed away before the
filming began, he said he did not use his mourning as a basis for the
character's depression. Still, I'd imagine that such experiences could
help to fuel an understanding of his character's motivations.
The use of flashbacks underscores how each of the family members relives
certain moments. This provides insight into the emotions they're feeling
but cannot express to each other.
Moore plays against type, and I believe this was one of the first times
she did so. America knew her from her television work as a cheerful,
sympathetic woman. In this movie, by contrast, she is cold and critical.
In counterpoint to her, Sutherland was a great choice. He plays Calvin
as a directionless man, trying everything he can to patch his family
back together. Hutton, in his first role on the big screen, is outstanding
as the troubled teen.
Ultimately, this film does an excellent job at getting at the truth
of how family deals with loss, without being preachy or lapsing into
sentimentality.
