Īndrew O'Hehir of Salon wrote that the film "bears a family resemblance to Sirk's 1955 " All That Heaven Allows" ". Haynes employs these tactics and others such as lighting and music to highlight these pivotal developments, and to further not only the plot of the story, but to create a sensory experience for the audience that lulls them into what appears to portray an idealized version of 1950s suburban American family life, but proves to be far from it. Utilizing the nostalgic mechanisms of a polished, period melodrama, Far From Heaven challenges the typical sanguine nature of the genre in an effort to highlight the central conflicts of its main characters, Cathy and Frank Whitaker, while also simultaneously shattering the wholesome image of American life during this time period, which is typically romanticized in American culture. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that in regards to the casting of Raymond, "Haysbert brings a Poitier-esque dignity and poise." Themes and analysis įar From Heaven focuses on several controversial issues of the mid-twentieth century, including racism, miscegenation, as well as views on homosexuality, and the stigma of escapism during that time period, presenting these issues through the mise-en-scène and cinematographic conventions of a 1950s style melodrama. Haynes' next choice, Russell Crowe, believed that the role was too small, and Jeff Bridges wanted too much money. While Moore joined the project immediately, Gandolfini was unavailable due to The Sopranos. Haynes wrote the script envisioning Moore and James Gandolfini as Cathy and Frank, respectively.
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When Cathy tells Raymond they can be together now that she is single, he rejects her, fearing that they will never be accepted.Ĭathy goes to the train station to see Raymond and Sarah off and waves a silent goodbye to Raymond, as the train leaves the station. Since the incident, people have thrown rocks at their windows, as the African-American community is not taking the mixing well. When Cathy learns what happened to Sarah, she visits Raymond and Sarah, who she finds packing in preparation to move to Baltimore. Frank tells Cathy he has met a man who loves him and wants to be with him, and that he wants a divorce. At the hotel, Frank has another sexual encounter with a young man.īack in Hartford, three white boys taunt and physically assault Raymond's daughter, Sarah, concussing her.
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Frank is also furious at Cathy, who then tells Raymond that their friendship is not "plausible" and goes with Frank to Miami over Christmas and New Year's to try to repair their marriage. When Cathy attends a ballet performance by her young daughter Janice, the mothers of the other girls prevent them from socializing with Janice. The town is soon ablaze with gossip about the two. They are seen together by one of Cathy's neighbors, who immediately tells everyone. Going to a bar in a black neighborhood, she is the only white person present. When he is unable to become aroused he strikes her when she tries to console him.Ĭathy decides to spend a day with Raymond. One night, after a party, Frank attempts to make love to Cathy. Cathy runs into Raymond at a local art show and initiates a discussion with him about modern painting, to the consternation of onlookers.
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However, their relationship is strained, and he turns to alcohol. He confesses to having had "problems" as a young man and agrees to sign up for conversion therapy.
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She walks in on him passionately kissing another man. One night when Frank is 'working late', Cathy decides to bring him dinner at the office. One day, Cathy sees an unknown black man walking in her yard, Raymond Deagan, her late gardener's son.įrank often stays late at the office, swamped with work. He was exploring the underground world of gay bars in Hartford. He says it is all a mixup, but they will not let him leave alone. One evening, she receives a phone call from the local police who are holding him. Her husband Frank is an executive at Magnatech, a television advertising company. In 1957 suburban Connecticut, Cathy Whitaker seems to be the perfect wife, mother, and homemaker.