The Cider House Rules (1999)

I had expected not to write this review. It's not that I don't care strongly about this movie. It just features an extremely controversial subject that may very well make or break your opinion of and/or desire to watch it, and I'd hate to ostracize a good chunk of my readership by indicating my own position. Maybe that's why I never heard anyone talk about the movie outside the context of the 71st Annual Academy Awards. Still, it got me thinking, and those who haven't seen it ought to make an informed decision.

Based on a John Irving book, the story follows one Homer Wells from his infancy in a rural Maine orphanage to his young adulthood (when he's played by Tobey Maguire), ending shortly after World War II. He never gets adopted or formally educated, instead becoming an unofficial apprentice to orphanage director Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine), who also serves as an obstetrician -- and abortionist. Tired of this claustrophobic life, he leaves with two friendly customers, Wally (Paul Rudd) and Candy (Charlize Theron), who help him gain employment as the only White laborer at a cider house. When Wally goes off to war, Candy strays toward Homer. But Dr. Larch won't accept that Homer will stay away for good.

It's worth noting that Homer refuses to assist Dr. Larch in abortions. He doesn't protest the doctor performing them; he just wants no part in an illegal operation. Of course, he probably does a lot of things he's not supposed to do without a medical degree, but they're not felonies. Only once does Homer hint at a moral conviction against it, when he says he's glad not to have been aborted. Dr. Larch does not respect his attitude, insisting that unwilling mothers who don't come to skilled abortionists will simply get riskier abortions. As you may have guessed, Homer does at least become flexible about the issue, when the plot conveniently throws him an especially harsh pregnancy situation. No, it's not of his own making. We're left to wonder whether he starts performing abortions as regularly as Dr. Larch.

I imagine the kids at the orphanage tend to see Dr. Larch as a saint, and perhaps the writer wants us to think of him that way. But whatever you think of the abortion issue, he definitely has problems. He has very little regard for law in general and almost no tolerance for interpersonal differences. He believes that everyone must make themselves useful to justify their continued existence, and his idea of usefulness is narrow. He uses ether as a recreational drug so much that kids complain of his usual smell, and when he ODs, it's even money whether he does it on purpose. You may find charm in his poetic catchphrase, "Goodnight, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England," but to me it seems a little chauvinistic.

Obviously, Homer's not all good himself if he cheats with his friend's girlfriend. It also seems rather selfish of him to leave a medical post, however informal, with no plan for a particular calling thereafter, simply taking whatever unskilled work he can get. But I find him easier to tolerate, not least because he finds other people easier to get along with. Despite (or perhaps because of) his undiversified orphanage, he brings no racial biases to the cider house.

Oh, in case you're wondering, the titular rules are a five-item list hanging on the wall. Everyone has heretofore ignored the page due to illiteracy, and when Homer enlightens them, they razz it, having already broken all the rules without consequences. While the list is not well composed, I disagree that they're entirely arbitrary, and I worry that the ultimate moral of the story is an anarchic "Screw all the rules you never agreed to."

I'm not sure how to feel about the racial element. Homer's co-workers, despite their surprise at his desire to work alongside them, show no misgivings about it and make him feel welcome. I doubt many contemporary Whites, even in the far north, would accommodate them so well. Just as importantly, the Black boss seems like a swell guy at first but is then confirmed to have done something nigh unforgivable; in Hollywood cinema, apparent redemption for such a man usually comes at a high price. Just what do minorities take away from this film?

The overall feel of TCHR is one of award bait, going through classical motions with emotionally charged content. I'm not sorry I watched, but neither am I sorry it lost to American Beauty. By now, you should be able to judge whether it's worth your checking out.