Safe Passage (1994)

Director:

Robert Allan Ackerman

Writers (WGA):

Ellyn Bache (novel)
Deena Goldstone (screenplay)

Release Date:

January 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Life's best journeys take you home

Plot:

A mother with seven sons feels like she's losing control of her life and her family. But personal pain...

Plot Keywords:

Large Family | Gay | Independent Film | Based On Novel

Cast

Susan Sarandon	...	Margaret "Mag" Singer
Nick Stahl	...	Simon Singer
Sam Shepard	...	Patrick Singer
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Cynthia
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Alfred Singer
Sean Astin	...	Izzy Singer
Patricia Reeves	...	Mrs. Silverman
Joe Lisi	...	Dog Owner
Matt Keeslar	...	Percival Singer
Marvin Scott	...	Newsperson #1
Bill Boggs	...	Newsperson #2
Christopher Wynkoop	...	Evangelist
Kathryn Kinley	...	Newsperson #3
Philip Arthur Ross	...	Merle Singer
Steven Robert Ross	...	Darren Singer

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Izzy Singer was originally to be played by River Phoenix, but Sean Astin got the part after Phoenix's death.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Percival is thrown from the car, how far zipped up his jacket is changes.

Quotes:

Izzy Singer: I think the blindness is an allergic reaction to the cat and all the tea you've been drinking... Dad, go with me on this, okay? The first day I got here you were blind. Did you drink any tea that morning?
Patrick Singer: No.
[Izzy takes his tea]
Patrick Singer: What is this? Gimme my tea!... Jesus!
Izzy Singer: I saw Mom throw Lucy out and then minutes later, after you talked to Gideon, you're sight started coming back, remember? And yesterday, the cat was around and at first you were all right but then you drank tea and you looked at the paper and you went blind. Later you went upstairs to take a shower, which probably washed some of the dander off and you could see again. I was right there. Dad think about it - what's the first thing you do in the morning? You drink tea! And you drank a cup of tea last night right before you went to bed, do you remember? You said "I'm allergic to liquor and I should probably stick to tea. Then you spent the night with the cat and here you are!
Patrick Singer: HAVE YOU LOST Your Mind? Huh?
Izzy Singer: Did you even have ONE allergic blind attack when you were sleeping at your office? Your office without the cat?... Huh?
Patrick Singer: I don't know. I don't know, maybe not.
Darren Singer: Wow.
Merle Singer: But if it's so simple, how come the doctors missed it?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

An unusual family

Being the mother of six children myself(so far)I feel it's great to find a movie where a mother,especially one of many kids,is made visible,as a person in her own right and not just as a bystander and comfort for the rest of the family.Usually it isn't such an attractive theme for a film maker(not being so glamorous and all),but here Susan Sarandon(grown up in a large family herself)portrays a mother of seven sons with great credibility. Maybe not one of those movies you watch for an hour or two of escapism and action,but well worth your time.Maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much if a)it hadn't been a Sarandon movie b)I hadn't had many kids myself. But I can't help liking it.