This is a rare look into the lifestyles of the Amish, a rare group represented on film outside of scattered appearances as supporting characters in other rural films and the thriller "Witness". Set in the 1940's, t focuses on a young city girl Susan McClung whose mother sends her from the big city to live with her family in Pennsylvania, which includes grandfather Eddie Albert and aunt and uncle Ann Wedgeworth and Rip Torn. She tells a woman on the bus on her way out there that she prefers living in the country, and has a special bond with uncle Torn who seems to have mental issues who for some reason is identified to not follow the Amish lifestyle but lives with the family anyway. His wife Wedgeworth is pregnant (possibly with another man's child), and is the voice of reason in the family, while low-key grandfather Albert is often the source of comfort. To say that this family is in your by the books on this family is an understatement.
Becoming close to her cousin, McClung gets to meet the eccentric people of the area including recluse Anne Revere who may or may not be a witch. It's also not easy for her to make new friends, most of the kids put off by her dour nature. That makes the film a bit dark and sometimes depressing and slow moving. But first and foremost, It's a drama about family, one not always happy, but trying to live simply and with love.
It's interesting to note that Torn and Wedgeworth had been married to each other years before in real life and reconciled briefly to make this movie.
It's hard to get a real grasp on McClung's character who keeps a lot in and only shows any strong emotion when Torn's character becomes ill. Basically, it's a slice of life film that lacks a strong plot but as seen through the eyes of its young protagonist is a growing up story that shows the power of love and loss in a vulnerable mind. Interesting to note that one of her cousins has Laura Ingalls pigtails because she gets to read a bit of "Little House on the Prairie", then popular on TV, in her classroom. Torn gets the showiest material and Albert and Wedgeworth are very good as well. Revere, a much revered veteran character actress from stage and screen, might scare little children, but in her brief time on screen is wonderful to watch. It's easy to see why this film has fallen into the category of obscure, but it's a wonderful find at a different view of a different world even if some of its details are questionable.
Becoming close to her cousin, McClung gets to meet the eccentric people of the area including recluse Anne Revere who may or may not be a witch. It's also not easy for her to make new friends, most of the kids put off by her dour nature. That makes the film a bit dark and sometimes depressing and slow moving. But first and foremost, It's a drama about family, one not always happy, but trying to live simply and with love.
It's interesting to note that Torn and Wedgeworth had been married to each other years before in real life and reconciled briefly to make this movie.
It's hard to get a real grasp on McClung's character who keeps a lot in and only shows any strong emotion when Torn's character becomes ill. Basically, it's a slice of life film that lacks a strong plot but as seen through the eyes of its young protagonist is a growing up story that shows the power of love and loss in a vulnerable mind. Interesting to note that one of her cousins has Laura Ingalls pigtails because she gets to read a bit of "Little House on the Prairie", then popular on TV, in her classroom. Torn gets the showiest material and Albert and Wedgeworth are very good as well. Revere, a much revered veteran character actress from stage and screen, might scare little children, but in her brief time on screen is wonderful to watch. It's easy to see why this film has fallen into the category of obscure, but it's a wonderful find at a different view of a different world even if some of its details are questionable.