Home For Purim

Author(s): Michael
Location: Oklahoma

“Home for Purim"

Directed by James Mangold
Produced by Cathy Konrad and Alan C. Blomquist
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Adapted by James Mangold

Principal Cast:

Catherine O’Hara -Esther Pischer
Rachel McAdams -Rachel Pischer
Kristen Chenoweth -Mary Pat Hooligan
William Hurt -David Pischer
Ryan Phillippe -Sam Pischer

Genre: Drama

Tagline: "This April, Come Home, Come Out, and Come See This Movie"

Synopsis: It’s the 1940’s and World War II is raging on. Forced by the draft, Sam Pischer is now in the U.S. Navy. His sister, Rachel has recently discovered that she is gay and met Mary Pat Hooligan whom she believes to be the love of her life. When the two siblings, Rachel and Sam, find out that their mother Esther is dying they decide it is time to go home to celebrate what will be their last family celebration of the Jewish holiday Purim. Sam gets permission to come home for the week and arrives before Rachel and Mary. He makes sure that he helps out in every way he can by taking care of his mother, washing dishes, and cleaning house. Once Rachel arrives with Mary, she comes out about her sexuality to her father and her brother who are sitting outside on the porch. They are both shocked, but are supportive and decide that they want to get to know Mary better.

When Rachel tells her mother about her sexual preference, her mother is utterly shocked and quickly dismisses the fact that her daughter is a lesbian. After much discussion and drama, Esther decides that she will live with the fact that her daughter is a lesbian and love the sinner, hate the sin. Meanwhile, as David and Sam try to figure out more about Mary Pat, they find that she is not Jewish, but Christian, and is very uncomfortable about the traditions of Purim. However that night at dinner, all of these problems seem to fade away as the lovely dinner goes on. There is much fun, laughter, and song that soon dissipate into a fight between Rachel and Esther. The fight comes to an abrupt ending when Esther suddenly falls onto the floor.

David and Sam are quick to react to the falling of Esther and hurry to get her medication. Mary Pat starts to get Esther into her room, while Rachel is sitting at the table in disbelief that she is fighting with her mother. Later that night, Esther is feeling a bit better and sitting up in bed. Rachel comes in to apologize to her mother; her mother however is still unable to move on from the fact that her little girl is a gay and does not accept her apology. That night Rachel decides that in the morning, Mary Pat and she will leave and go home.

The next morning, right before Rachel and Mary Pat are to leave, Esther once again collapses. This time they call the doctor, who makes a house call and informs them that Esther is taking her last breaths. One last time, Rachel goes in to try and reconcile with her mother. This time, Esther tells her, in a moving monologue, that although she dislikes the fact that Rachel is a lesbian she does not want to go to her grave in the middle of a dispute with her daughter. Soon after, Esther dies a quiet peaceful but heartbreaking death.

What the press would say:

Never before has there been such a good movie trying to get Oscars, based on a movie trying to get Oscars, which was inside of a movie that was trying to get Oscars. Home for Purim really goes the extra distance in all areas such as character development, story, drama, acting, directing and writing. James Mangold makes another terrific film with the strongest acting ensemble of the year. Rarely do you see a director such as Mangold with the talent to direct his actors into the best performances of the year and some of the best of the decade. James also wrote the screenplay, which also was fantastic. The dialogue is flawless and extremely well written. One of the best parts about the screenplay is that Mangold doesn’t use cliché's but writes with a fresh approach to a fairly old subject. The performances are incredible to say the least. Catherine O’Hara reprises her role as Esther Pischer, the role in which she played in For Your Consideration. Once again, she plays the role perfectly and not as cheesy as in Consideration. The scenes between her and McAdams alone are worth more than I paid for my ticket to see the film. The chemistry between these two fantastic actresses’ are chilling in the power that is being portrayed on screen. If these 2 actresses’ are ignored by the Academy like they were in Consideration, they have to be insane. Rachel McAdams gives another great performance and as I mentioned earlier, her scenes with O’Hara are amazing. The dynamic that is on the screen between these actresses is indescribable. I guarantee that after you walk out of the theater you will have been so impressed by these performances you will be thinking about them for weeks to come.

Rachel and Catherine aside, the rest of the cast gives great supporting performances. Kristen Chenoweth presents yet another Oscar worthy performance that is sure to have everyone talking. After winning the Oscar for Wicked, one would think that she couldn't come up with another great performance, but think again. Her rendition as Mary Pat is fantastic; the level of awkwardness when she is on screen with everyone besides Rachel is bone-chilling. Ryan Phillippe produces a great performance that is sure to be under-rated, but still worthy. William Hurt gives a great subtle performance that will probably be over-shadowed by the other performances of the film, but still none the less incredible. On the whole, this is the best film I have seen in a while. It is full of Oscar worthy performances, directing, and writing. Clearly, the best film of the year that you don't want to miss!

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director- James Mangold
Best Adapted Screenplay- James Mangold
Best Actress- Catherine O’Hara
Best Actress- Rachel McAdams
Best Supporting Actor- Ryan Phillippe
Best Supporting Actor- William Hurt
Best Supporting Actress- Kristen Chenoweth
Best Costume Design
Best Art Direction