Where the Heart Is (1990)

Stewart McBain (Coleman) is a real-estate mogul who spends his living blowing up old buildings to make room to erect new buildings. All goes as planned for a new subdivision, until a group ... See full summary »

Director:

John Boorman

Writers:

John Boorman, Telsche Boorman

Stars:

Dabney Coleman, Uma Thurman, Joanna Cassidy

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dabney Coleman	...	Stewart McBain
Uma Thurman	...	Daphne McBain
Joanna Cassidy	...	Jean
Crispin Glover	...	Lionel
Suzy Amis	...	Chloe McBain
Christopher Plummer	...	Shitty
David Hewlett	...	Jimmy
Maury Chaykin	...	Harry
Dylan Walsh	...	Tom
Ken Pogue	...	Hamilton
Sheila Kelley	...	Sheryl
Michael Kirby	...	Lionel's Father
Dennis Strong	...	Marvin X
Timothy Stickney	...	Marcus
Emma Woollard	...	Olivia

Storyline

Stewart McBain (Coleman) is a real-estate mogul who spends his living blowing up old buildings to make room to erect new buildings. All goes as planned for a new subdivision, until a group of protesters object to the destruction of one lonely, ugly building, called the Dutch House. Typically, the media is sent to the scene of the protest, and McBain appears on TV in a bad way. His children - Daphne (Thurman), Chloe (Amis), and Jimmy (Hewlett) - ridicule him for appearing on TV, and as a reward for their remarks, he drops them off at the Dutch House with $750 apiece, and tells them they're on their own. They must find jobs if they expect to make money to stay warm. McBain and his wife, Jean watch from afar as their children adapt to their new lifestyle, meeting new friends, and inviting others into their new home, including a decrepit bum.

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Plot Keywords:

bare breasts | pretending to be gay | homelessness | nude model | male nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ahol a szív lakik

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$1,106,475 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV, Where the Heart Is

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Stewart McBain: My Heart? Home is where the heart is, and I've lost my home.

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Soundtracks

"Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)"
Written by Margo Timmins and Michael Timmins, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Performed by Cowboy Junkies

User Reviews

Where the Heart Is strikes home

I've seen a few of Mr. Boorman's movies and didn't like much of them. Not that they are bad movies, quite the contrary are good movies, but not content I personally found entertaining. However I think Where the Heart Is, although made to cater to the less than art savvy American audience, is masterful as satire, and as social commentary of the times it was made in. I've had to replace this movie in my collection at least a half a dozen times, since every time I loan it out to someone I know could appreciate it's artistry on all its levels, my copy fails to come back home to me, lol. The last time took 7 years to replace it since it was out of print for VHS sales, has never been made as a DVD that I know of, and had to wait till one of the premium cable channels ran it before I could tape it again.

My favorite aspect after the nail-on-the-head social commentary is the paintings by Timna Woollard. I've searched for 15 years to find anyone or anywhere that could lead me to where her work is available for sale. Or better yet a copy of the paintings in the movie without the ending credits rolling over them. I have a room in my house that I dedicated to putting copies of her paintings in, and no one seems to know if it ever was released as a coffee table book, or video aquarium, or as a documentary of her work. If anyone does know of where I can acquire any sort of copy of Timna's work or where her studio is in England, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.