Review of Far from Heaven (2002) by Alister N — 05 Jun 2007

A technically perfect movie that is just as perfectly heartfelt. "Far From Heaven" stars the magnificent Julianne Moore as Cathy Whitaker, a Connecticut housewife living a seemingly perfect life with her immaculately pristine clothes and her coiffure that never seems to move. Her world shatters when she finds out that her husband is a homosexual. She later then starts developing feelings for a black man.

A sharp social commentary runs underneath throughout the film in regards to how life in the 1950's were marred by racism, homophobia and the overall dominating societal expectations.

A very precise direction by Todd Haynes with an equally precise and understated performance by the always beautiful Moore, "Far From Heaven" is covered with the sensibilities of a melodrama that could surely give one a tooth ache. But because there is no irony nor an all-knowing mockery, and what we see is literally what we get, we can't help but feel for Cathy and her plight at the end. The film could have been a silly exercise in camp and over-the-top soap opera or, at worst, a cold and bland stylistic experiment. But Haynes does not make fun of his characters nor does he judge them either. The story just unfolds beautifully, as pure as how a flower blossoms in the garden. This is perfect cinema that deserves a box of Kleenex tissues.