Cavedweller

Dorothy Allison's excellent novel "Cavedweller" is the source of this film of the same title. Ms. Allison's novels are about real people going through tough times in their lives. This movie was adapted by Anne Meredith from the massive novel and the essence of it comes across under the sure direction of Lisa Cholodenko. Ms. Cholodenko's other films show she has an affinity to present characters that are always at crossroads of their lives.

This film though, owes a great deal to the courageous performance of Kyra Sedgwick, who gets under the skin of Delia to show us what makes this woman ticks. We see Delia at the beginning in a desolated beach in Los Angeles. She is lost in thought, but evidently, at that moment she has made up her mind to make amends to her past. When she gets home she decides to leave everything behind and go to Georgia with Cissy, her youngest daughter.

In flashbacks we get to see Delia's life go through her mind. We learn about the abusive husband, Clint. Also, we witness her betrayal to him and how she leaves her two young daughters for a musician, Randall. Their attraction is all physical; Randall is a man who can't be true to any woman, or remain in a loving relationship.

Delia shows her courage in going back to the small town where everyone knows what she did. Her taciturn father takes her in, reluctantly. She goes to see her two daughters, who by now are teen agers; they reject her, as well as the paternal grandmother. But it's Clint, the dying man she left behind, the one that is able to reunite Delia with her daughters. It takes a lot for anyone to go back to that situation and Delia shows she is a woman that can see now where she went wrong, if only a bit late.

The acting is first rate. Ms. Sedgwick, as Delia, has the best opportunity. Young Regan Arnold gives an amazing performance as Cissy, the younger daughter who is too wise for her young age. Aidan Quinn, as Clint, has good moments, but of course, the men in this movie are secondary characters. Kevin Bacon is seen in flashbacks and has little to do. Jackie Burrows, as the grandmother shows us a woman consumed in her hatred of Delia. Vanessa Zima plays Amanda, the oldest daughter who has turned to religion to compensate by what her young mind can't comprehend.

This is not a film for everybody. Watch it because Kyra Sedgwick deserves to be seen and because it's a story that is original and unique in that is so anti Hollywood, made by a rising voice in film directing: Lisa Cholodenko.

I don't really understand why this is so lowly rated as of the time of my review. This is a serious drama, competently directed and believably acted by all. The story held my interest and the wonderful Kyra Sedgwick delivered another good performance. As is usual for me, I haven't read the book and knew very little about the story before watching. Unusual for me, I watched it despite the low rating here and I am glad I did. I am sure the character played by Kyra Sedgwick couldn't be farther from who she really is but she sure knew what she wanted to do with this part.

If you want comedy or action, other films should be considered. If want to think about life, love, parenthood, and dying, this one should hold your interest.

Chris

Although this film has received a lot of criticism in here, (as I have noticed) in my honest opinion, I liked it! My initial thought when the movie started was: "Oh my god, it's another one of those sappy, bad quality movies, you normally see on the Hallmark channel, (which I was watching at the time) but a few minutes into the beginning I got more interested and ended up watching all of it. Start to finish. I will however give a user right in one thing. The scene with the mother when she is driving back home, is far to long and uneventful, but maybe it was intended, to get people to focus more on the later events in the movie. Things I liked about the movie: It had humor. Great actors like Aidan Quinn, and Kevin Bacon, appeared in it. There were awesome music featured in it, and I especially liked how you had to wait to see the flashbacks, so you could understand the movie. It added excitement! The movie is supposed to be gloomy and unforgiving, which is kind of the theme word for the movie! I would like to name movies who resembled it, but I actually haven't seen a movie which resembled this one. It's also funnier than it would seem for those who haven't seen it!

I watched the Cavedweller at first after channel surfing with mild interest.

Soon the plot captured my attention and became riveting. As a former victim of severe domestic violence (ex now in prison for molesting our son as well) I know what a struggle this woman overcame for the love of her daughters. Like her I had to come to the realization that I would have been killed by my ex husband, as well as my only child if I had stayed and had no other family or support to run to. I commend this character's courage and only wonder if I would have done the same. As the movie essay says the performance of the female cast is very powerful, but I must include that Aiden Quinn also did a spectacular job in this, portraying someone completely against his normal characters. Well Done!

I was engaged by the movie. Thought the plot was believable enough, the direction good and the acting superior. One of my favorite sleeper films. Also the title song has remained with me, many months later.

I thought the film dealt well with a number of real human situations involving sibling rivalry, sickness and death, the contrast between rural and urban lifestyles, the breakup of the nuclear family, etc. And I wound up caring about all of the main characters. I don't ask much more of a movie.

It does have an indy feel to it, but I thought that added to the charm. I would definitely add it to my library and watch it every now and then.