Thousand acres

I read the book, last night I saw the movie. Its on DVD.

The movie stars Michelle Peiffer, Jessica Lange, Jason Robards, Jennifer Leigh,Colin Fith, and Keith Cardine. The movie fallows the novel. The novel follows the plot line of Hamlet. The novel, Thousand Acres, won the pulitzer prize in 1992 for its author, Jane Smiley.

The setting is Kansas. The story has some revealed secrets, a forbidden romance or two and a ssnse of greed versus sensibility, and conflict. The farm life depicted could have happened in Merced. or Eastern Colorado, or anywhere there are family farms.

The questions in this movie are pretty profound. When does the family business change hands? What happens if there are no hands for it to change to? What does a farmer do when they retire? Does damage in the past constitute entitlement in the future. The women in this movie play more than stereotypical farm women. They play out the tragedy, There is no happy ending for any of the characters in this story.

The flavor of the novel is captured accurately by this movie. If you have time and inclination, read the book. Without each, the movie will suffice. The movie stands on its own as good drama. These actresses are great actresses not just pretty faces.

: ) Pat