In this film, a small town dies and a power source is created. So what is the big deal? The big deal is that for the people who grew up and lived in that small town. Now, it will be gone forever, as if it never existed. I can completely relate to the plot of this film. I was raised in a small town just like this one, but in the suburbs of New Jersey. Now called Woodland Park, by the swells from the Westmount Country Club, who owned all the valuable property in the area near Garrett Mountain. They had the political pull and money to get the town name changed from West Paterson to Woodland Park, a much nicer name that yuppies could be proud of, instead of the working class neighborhood that West Paterson, Great Notch Gardens, and other places close by used to be. Now, West Paterson, and all the histories of all the working class families who lived in that area are gone forever; including my family. The Pedottis, the Hullahs, the Lamberts, the Taferos, the Vitans, the Van Winkles, the Klems, the Dachinos, the Kings, the Sheas, the Zambinos, the Prices, the Gallaghers, the McKernans, the Banniers, the Ruanes, the Furlongs, the Schoenfishes, the Barkers, and several more families whose names have now become a dim memory. All of us were displaced by these yuppies who came ten years after we opened up this territory for settling. Our fathers started little leagues, and playgrounds, and boys clubs. Our mothers had big family picnics at Saint Bons Church, were Cub scout leaders, and swam at the Ressy (the local watering hole that served as our drinking water as well). I never had water as good as I drank in West Paterson. And now its Woodland Park. Shame on you for destroying the memories of a great little town in North Jersey.
PS The film is pretty offbeat and different. Nick Nolte as a priest is quite a stretch, but he pulls it off. A very esoteric film.
PS The film is pretty offbeat and different. Nick Nolte as a priest is quite a stretch, but he pulls it off. A very esoteric film.