Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)

Director:

Anjelica Huston

Writers (WGA):

Dorothy Allison (book)
Anne Meredith (teleplay)

Release Date:

15 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Difficult tale of poor, struggling South Carolinian mother & daughter, who each face painful choices with their resolve and pride...

Plot Keywords:

Violence | Brother Sister Relationship | Childhood Trauma | Directorial Debut | Poverty

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Anney Boatwright
Ron Eldard	...	Glen Waddell
Glenne Headly	...	Aunt Ruth
Lyle Lovett	...	Wade
Jena Malone	...	Ruth Anne 'Bone' Boatwright
Dermot Mulroney	...	Lyle Parsons
Christina Ricci	...	Dee Dee
Michael Rooker	...	Uncle Earle
Diana Scarwid	...	Aunt Raylene
Susan Traylor	...	Alma
Grace Zabriskie	...	Granny
Richard Todd Sullivan	...	Travis
Pat Hingle	...	Mr. Waddell
Lindley Mayer	...	Reese
Jamison Stewart	...	Grey

MPAA:

Rated R for strong depiction of sexual and violent abuse, including a rape scene involving a young girl.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating on appeal) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:R-15 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:Unrated | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Whiteville, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Showtime Networks

Goofs:

Anachronisms: (00:12:57) Dermot Mulroney's character (Lyle Parsons) is driving along a road past a modern looking house with a very modern looking red truck parked in the driveway.

Quotes:

Anney Boatwright: Hey, Bone. You sleepin'? You startin' to look like me, Bone. You're growin' up. What do you think, honey? You think I'm doin' the right thing?
Ruth Anne 'Bone' Boatwright: I don't know.
Anney Boatwright: I think I am. I hope I am! Sometimes I just get so tired, you know? Sometimes I just want somebody strong to stand by me. To stay with me.
Ruth Anne 'Bone' Boatwright: I'll stay with you.
Anney Boatwright: I know you will, Bone.

Soundtrack:

I Want You By My Side

Stunning!

I just finished watching this movie again for the third time in the last two days. Each time I watch it I discover something I missed in the previous viewing. There are no wasted lines or scenes. It is a powerful 1996 movie with excellent performances, dealing with the touchy subject of child abuse.

Anjelica Huston is the director and this is her first attempt at directing a feature length movie. The results are stunning. It is altogether a flawless movie, with an excellent script based on the Dorothy Allison novel, and stars Jena Malone as the young protagonist. Jennifer Jason Leigh is in the tough role of the mother torn between the choices she faces in loving both her daughter and the abusive stepfather. Many times throughout the movie I sat on the edge of my seat stunned by the action happening onscreen. It is not a movie with pat answers and predictable solutions, but manages to show the complexities involved in each situation. There are no cardboard characters either, as in real life not everyone is totally good or evil, though their actions may dip into either category from time to time.

The most compelling performance, in a film loaded with excellent acting, comes from young Malone, who commands a role that many adult actresses would no doubt have trouble handling. Her face tells a thousand stories with each shot giving a multi-leveled meaning to the deeper motivations that lie within her character.

After the credits Glenne Headly provides further information about the subject and a child abuse hotline number, which is a great addition to a film of this sort. It is not "entertainment" per se, but more along the lines of an informational public service. The symptoms of child abuse are highlighted throughout the movie and the effect of everyone's participation documented as fair warning to the viewer.

I can't praise this movie enough. A film like this raises my awareness and compassion level and makes me want to reach out to help in any way I can. It exceeds expectations in just about every way imaginable.