Resurrection (1980)

Ellen Burstyn experiences the afterlife for a brief time after a car accident that kills her husband. As she begins her long process of physical healing, she discovers that she has the ... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writer:

Lewis John Carlino

Stars:

Ellen Burstyn, Sam Shepard, Richard Farnsworth

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ellen Burstyn	...	Edna
Sam Shepard	...	Cal
Richard Farnsworth	...	Esco
Roberts Blossom	...	John Harper
Clifford David	...	George
Pamela Payton-Wright	...	Margaret
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Joe
Eva Le Gallienne	...	Grandma Pearl
Lois Smith	...	Kathy
Madeleine Sherwood	...	Ruth (as Madeleine Thornton-Sherwood)
Richard Hamilton	...	Earl Carpenter
Carlin Glynn	...	Suzy Kroll
Lane Smith	...	Don
Penelope Allen	...	Ellie
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Hank Peterson

Storyline

Ellen Burstyn experiences the afterlife for a brief time after a car accident that kills her husband. As she begins her long process of physical healing, she discovers that she has the ability to heal physical infirmities. While most people simply accept her gift, her lover (Sam Shepard) becomes mentally unbalanced and dangerous because she does not place the healings within a religious context.

---

Plot Keywords:

car accident | gift | afterlife | grandmother granddaughter relationship | gas station | 

---

Taglines:

There is a line between life and death. Edna McCauley crossed over that line and came back. Now no one she touches will ever be the same.

---

Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der starke Wille

Filming Locations:

Fabens, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Martin Scorsese was reportedly healed from asthma by the real life healer who inspired this film.

---

Quotes

Esco Brown: Go carefully with peace in your heart, love in your eyes, and laughter on your tongue. And if life don't hand you nothing but lemons, you just make you a bunch of lemonade. Book Brown, chapter one, verse one.

---

Crazy Credits

Stills of different portions of the movie are shown during the credits. The final still is a part not previously seen and it shows the rock garden behind the gas station which is referenced earlier in the movie.

---

Connections

Remade as Resurrection (1999)

---

Soundtracks

"Old Chisholm Trail (Come a Ti Yi Yippee Yippee Yay)"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappela by Richard Farnsworth

User Reviews

I will watch it all the way through every time just to have the impact of the very end...

This movie has been a favorite of mine since it came out. I find it very moving, and inspirational, and I am such a SUCKER for movies that have an ending where the last two minutes hit you right in the heart, or the head, or both. (RE: Shawshank Redemption and Working Girl as two examples)

See this movie! I am sure it will hold different pleasures and bring different insights for different people, but no one will NOT feel something. Wonderful performances by all, and sadly this is truly an underrated and little known film. I hope this will come out on DVD someday.

I think I am going to go hunt up my nearly worn out VHS version and watch it again today. Oh, and when you do get a chance to see it, make sure you share it with a friend. This is a great movie for discussion after. I think you, like me, will want to see it again.