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Après avoir disséqué l’univers scintillant du “glam rock” dans Velvet Goldmine, le réalisateur américain Todd Haynes jette un regard derrière le vernis des années 50, tout en rendant hommage aux mélodrames du cinéaste Douglas Sirk, dans son très beau Far from Heaven.
En 1958, Cathy Whitaker semble mener une vie de rêve. Ménagère accomplie, elle organise des soirées courues et de bon goût pour les amis de son mari Frank, publiciste reconnu. Elle a deux adorables bambins, de nombreuses amies. Mais lorsqu’elle découvre les penchants de Frank pour l’alcool et les jeunes hommes et qu’elle se console avec l’amitié de son jardinier noir, tout son statut social est mis en péril.
Dans un décor d’automne chatoyant, Todd Haynes, tout en s’intéressant à la triste condition des femmes dans les années 50, met en lumière les terribles penchants racistes et homophobes de l’Amérique puritaine. Soutenu par un Dennis Quaid étonnant et une Julianne Moore émouvante, dont le rôle de femme esseulée et perdue rappelle celui qu’elle tenait dans The Hours, Far from Heaven fait partie de ces films audacieux qui nous forcent à soulever les masques parfaits pour découvrir ce qui est sale et terni. On est effectivement bien loin du paradis. --Helen Faradji
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Kress
Format:DVD
A cinematic tribute to Douglas Sirk (if you don't know who he is, look him up), "Far From Heaven" was such a great film for me mainly because I had no idea what it was about when I rented it, then later bought it.
The colors are gorgeous, reminding me of "Spring Forward" another cinematic visually stunning film. But not only are the colors wonderful, the costumes and decor are superb.
Scintillating and provocative, what makes this film really sing is the fact that it's set in the 1950s, looks like it was made then, but deals with race and homosexuality to such a degree that you find yourself looking at the casing, saying "How did I miss this one?" when all along it's a new movie.
The idea is brilliant, and it is ahead of its time, the way a lot of the films from the 1950s were, "Immitation of Life" comes to mind, though even that film was treated fairly softly.
"Far From Heaven" is a subtle film on the surface, but a brilliant one in depth. I invite anyone who doesn't like this film to see it again because, my friend, you're missing something special here.
Dennis Quaid gives the performance of his life, and the other actors come up to his level. I can't rate this highly enough. Also, see all of Douglas Sirk's movies, and anything with Edith Head costumes. Seriously, you'll love them all.
The colors are gorgeous, reminding me of "Spring Forward" another cinematic visually stunning film. But not only are the colors wonderful, the costumes and decor are superb.
Scintillating and provocative, what makes this film really sing is the fact that it's set in the 1950s, looks like it was made then, but deals with race and homosexuality to such a degree that you find yourself looking at the casing, saying "How did I miss this one?" when all along it's a new movie.
The idea is brilliant, and it is ahead of its time, the way a lot of the films from the 1950s were, "Immitation of Life" comes to mind, though even that film was treated fairly softly.
"Far From Heaven" is a subtle film on the surface, but a brilliant one in depth. I invite anyone who doesn't like this film to see it again because, my friend, you're missing something special here.
Dennis Quaid gives the performance of his life, and the other actors come up to his level. I can't rate this highly enough. Also, see all of Douglas Sirk's movies, and anything with Edith Head costumes. Seriously, you'll love them all.
Format:DVD
For the first hour I thought this was an incredibly beautiful re-creation of an extinct genre. For the second hour I thought this was one of the worst films ever made. The unfortunate thing about this movie is that the glorious first hour is used as a launching point towards what amounts to an unending sermon about political correctness.
Twenty years or so ago a movie like this might have been regarded as cutting edge, and deservedly so. Now, it's just a sorry anachronism, in a double-sense of the word. It's an anachronism not only because it employs a dead genre. It's also OLD-FASHIONED because there have been so many films which have tackled these themes in infinitely more courageous ways. Nowadays, there's nothing daring or interesting about making a film like this. It's just incredily boring.
God, I hated this movie!
Then again, the movie also has my grudging admiration for patronizing, within the time-span of less two hours, three distinct demographical entities: heterosexual upper-middle class whites, blue collar blacks, and homosexuals.
Is there another movie in history that has managed to patronize all three sub-groups within the same film, and yet comes out saying nothing original? While I admit this is genius, it's not the sort of genius I generally admire.
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Accompanied by an enchanting score, "Far From Heaven" features exemplary performances by Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid. Can life really be perfect for anyone? Even for Cathy Whitaker, who seems as if she is living the *perfect* life as a wife to a great husband and a mother to great children. Yet...behind every seemingly unblemished façade lie unrevealed secrets. When Cathy Whitaker's husband is revealed to have homosexual desires, what is she to do? When she develops romantic desires herself for a black gardener, as a white female, what is she to do? Both of the issues of homosexuality and interracial dating were forbidden topics in the 1950's - neither was considered "appropriate behavior." In that sense, this film is not only just about showing the imperfections life itself is composed of, but additionally it is a view of the societal values of that era. As for Cathy, what can she do? She knows that her husband, though he may try to "rid" himself of his homosexual feelings, may not return to her, and she knows that in her world, a romance between a white and a black will be considered unacceptable by both races. Sometimes, life doesn't exactly unfold as we may have planned for it to...and what can we do? 10/10. A.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to Enjoy, Impossible to Love
An homage to the great melodramas of the 1950's, "Far From Heaven" accurately recaptures the look and feel of those films. Read more
Published on Jun 13 2004 by F. W. Young
4.0 out of 5 stars
ANGELS IN WAITING
Director Todd Haynes is to be commended in his approach to FAR FROM HEAVEN. A throwback to the 50's weepers like ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS, BACK STREET and IMITATION OF LIFE, he... Read more
Published on Jun 10 2004 by Michael Butts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exquisite.
Todd Haynes's "Far From Heaven," a semi-replica of Douglas Sirk's classic 1954 "All That Heaven Allows," surpasses its predecessor with stunning grace. Read more
Published on Jun 7 2004 by Jason W. Qualls
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Disollusional Period
Postwar was enjoyed by the few that had the privilege to move to suburbia, get a good job, and raise a family. Read more
Published on Jun 7 2004 by Diaspora Chic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Todd Haynes is a hopeful promise
The story is simple but haunting. A middle marriage. Connecticut.
Set in the fifties, Julianne Moore discovers the hidden secret sexual of his husband. Read more
Set in the fifties, Julianne Moore discovers the hidden secret sexual of his husband. Read more
Published on May 26 2004 by Hiram Gomez Pardo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Atmospheric drama; just wish it were longer
This movie plays in the 50's and the atmosphere of that period is brilliantly portrayed. The exaggerated retro-font of the film title is already one indication, and consequently... Read more
Published on May 8 2004 by hjonkers
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well Done
A bit of a long drama, but the acting is captured well. Moore does a bang up job portraying happy housewife Mrs. Whittaker. Read more
Published on May 8 2004
3.0 out of 5 stars
One issue at a time, please!
I grew up in the fifties in the Hartford area and can vouch for the authenticity of the clothing (the color combinations were a little more daring than I remember) and the... Read more
Published on April 13 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stunning combo
I would like to believe that somewhere down the line the combo of Todd Haynes and Julianne Moore will be mentioned as one of the stunning collaborations in film. Read more
Published on April 11 2004 by David G. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute Masterpiece!
For those who think there are no great movies being made today, I urge you to look no further than Far From Heaven. Read more
Published on April 9 2004 by Joan Crawford
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