Lebanon, Pa.

LEBANON, PA. is a quiet little conversational film that is a microcosm of the interrelationships of families and the issues that affect us all. It is this straight forward, no pretenses stance that makes the film work. The story takes place in the town of Lebanon, Pennsylvania and is portrayed as a place where values are traditional and immutable. But after viewing the film, one wonders if the reference to this very church- oriented place might be the biblical one: Jeremiah 22:23 'O inhabitant of Lebanon, nested among the cedars, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, pain as of a woman in travail!' Just a passing thought....

A death has occurred at film's beginning: Will (Josh Hopkins, another actor to add to the Hunk list) has driven form his advertising firm in Philadelphia for the funeral of his distant father, a teacher and toy boat maker who left his family when Will was young to live in this picturesque but doggedly small town mentality haven. He stays with his cousin Andy (Ian Merrill Peakes), a devout Catholic whose wife died giving birth to his second child Chase (Hunter Gallagher). His daughter CJ (Rachel Kitson) is the woman of the house despite the fact that she is only seventeen and in high school. Will attends the sparse funeral of his father: his mother (Mary Beth Hurt) is conspicuously absent, preferring to remain in Philadelphia because of her longterm resentment of he departed husband. Will finds the slow motion of Lebanon enticing, makes regular visits to the local bar (Christopher Mann plays the observant bartender) where he meets school teacher Vicki (Samantha Mathis), hits on her, falls for her only to discover she is married.

CJ has a problem: she is pregnant by classmate Pete (Josh Hunt) but has told no one - until she shares her with Will, a man she feels she can trust. CJ has dreams of attending college in Philadelphia but her current pregnant status threatens that. She is faced with a major decision: keep the pregnancy and put the child up for adoption or terminate the pregnancy to get on with her life. Will is supportive as is Vicki with out telling CJ what to do but assuring her she has options. Andy discovers CJ's secret (as does the entire gossipy town) and on religious grounds demands that she have the baby. How CJ comes to a decision is as tough as the decision Vicki must make about her deep feelings, reciprocated, for Will, and Will must decide whether to follow his father's pathway to isolation form the city or maintain his status quo. The interaction of all these characters results in some tough but realistic decisions about those things we all face in life.

Ben Hickernill wrote and directed this film which at times feels like a Hallmark special and at other times like a solid and brave little statement about the cultural divide in America.

Grady Harp

...you are charming. I read the synopsis, then watched the movie, that is the conclusion I made. The geeks, psychos, cuckolds, etc are all bald and I guess being bald is symbolism for loser these days. There are many things to hate about this movie, from the plot, to the undeveloped story, to the B acting, to the there is nothing to like about his protagonist, to the stereotypes of rural living and communities, on and on it goes. This movie is filled with characters who seem unable to see the world through anything but their own selfish and immature perspective. Who take little to no responsibility for their own actions and learn nothing from the trials of others. This is perfectly summed up in the line "when WE kissed that night, didn't YOU think about what might happen (to MY marriage)?". A cast of mostly unlikable characters, but hey, Will has hair and is in great shape, so he must be charming.

I write this because of the totally unfair review by "Ihmedeuce". Lebanon, Pa was a very entertaining movie with great acting. It had less Hollywood and more thought. The young actors were compelling and the story line quite interesting. No explosions or car crashes -- just a nice gem of a film.

The soundtrack was also well crafted, lots of great voicings and strings. This was an uplifting movie that gave one moments of helpless sensitivity due to the situations encountered in the plot.

These types of movies were made not for Academy Awards but more for gentle regular people to enjoy and must be watched in this light.

different images of family relationship, return to past, significant moment to transform your life. at first sigh, nothing new. maybe too more elements, a too complex lesson about responsibilities and essential gestures/decisions but important remains the basic fact than it is only a fresco of choices. sure, it is not a great movie and its sins are many. but it is a honest movie and this fact defines it. picture of a side of America, without ambition to impress its public, it is a form of analysis of common realities in a clear light. the acting is OK, the script- not bad, and good intentions are admirable. a film about link between past and future, it can be good subject of reflection for each of its viewers.

There are MANY controversial issues in this film : abortion, adoption, conservative, liberal, religion, infidelity, teen sex....jeez! Too much for one movie. I thought is was going to be about urban living vs. small town. This was not even a discussion, but rather the writer predictably stereotyped each kind of living. This was very uninteresting in light of the local food movement and current trend to blend both worlds. There was no new thought in this film, but rather an attempt at almost every moment to remain "neutral" on the many controversies. Unfortunately, it ended up being one big preach. There were only a few moments when I felt like the dialog and acting were convincing. Otherwise, it either dragged or the actors were "educating" me on these issues. Poorly written, nothing special about the production value, and aside from waiting to hear what the stance is....it's pretty boring. Don't recommend it.