Unstrung Heroes (1995)

Director:

Diane Keaton

Writers (WGA):

Franz Lidz (book)
Richard LaGravenese (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Sometimes you find your heroes in the most unlikely places.

Plot:

Steven Lidz, unhappy with his home life since his mother got sick, goes and lives with his two crazy Uncles...

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Cemetery | Jewish Culture | Childhood Memory | Love

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Andie MacDowell	...	Selma Lidz
John Turturro	...	Sid Lidz
Michael Richards	...	Danny Lidz
Maury Chaykin	...	Arthur Lidz
Nathan Watt	...	Steven / Franz Lidz
Anne De Salvo	...	May
Celia Weston	...	Amelia
Jack McGee	...	Lindquist
Candice Azzara	...	Joanie (as Candy Azzara)
Kendra Krull	...	Sandy Lidz
Giuseppe Andrews	...	Ash (as Joey Andrews)
Lillian Adams	...	Aunt Estelle
Lou Cutell	...	Uncle Melvin
Sumer Stamper	...	Nancy Oppenheim
Sean P. Donahue	...	Ralph Crispi (as Sean Donahue)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Australia:PG | Denmark:12 | Finland:K-8 | Germany:6 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Johnie's Broiler - 7447 Firestone Blvd., Downey, California, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Henry Winkler auditioned for the role of Danny Lidz. He arrived in character and in full costume.

Quotes:

Sid Lidz: He doesn't know what he believes. My brothers filled him with all that junk.
[refering to his son reading the Torah]
Sid Lidz: .
Selma Lidz: Maybe they're right for once. What would you know? You work ten hours a day and then you lock yourself in that workshop. What do you know about the world? Maybe there is a God, or maybe some of us want to believe there is.

Movie Connections:

References Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

Soundtrack:

You Are My Sunshine

Love conquers all

Very nice, touching movie. Made me cry. A story of a boy coming of age while dealing with a dying mother and rebelling against his father all in the context of a loving extended family. The (Jewish) cultural angle gave it authenticity. A fine performance by Nathan Watt but that John Turturro is really something. Michael Richards was essentially Kramer again. Interesting in that it is a woman director (Diane Keaton) who brings this story of male family love to the screen. While mom is very loving as well, she sadly and symbolically abandons Steven/Franz by dying and it is the weird (eccentric and harmlessly schizophrenic) uncles who support him thru it all, once again posing the question, "Who really are the crazy (or heroes, for that matter) among us?" I give it an 8.