A Walk on the Moon (1999)

The world of a young housewife is turned upside down when she has an affair with a free-spirited blouse salesman.

Director:

Tony Goldwyn

Writer:

Pamela Gray

Stars:

Bobby Boriello, Diane Lane, Anna Paquin

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bobby Boriello	...	Daniel Kantrowitz
Diane Lane	...	Pearl Kantrowitz
Anna Paquin	...	Alison Kantrowitz
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Lillian Kantrowitz
Liev Schreiber	...	Marty Kantrowitz
Julie Kavner	...	P.A. Announcer (voice)
Stewart Bick	...	Neil Leiberman
Jess Platt	...	Herb Fogler
Mahée Paiement	...	Mrs. Dymbort (as Mahee Paiement)
Star Jasper	...	Rhoda Leiberman
Ellen David	...	Eleanor Gelfand
Lisa Bronwyn Moore	...	Norma Fogler
Viggo Mortensen	...	Walker Jerome
Victoria Barkoff	...	Selma Levitsky (as Vicky Barkoff)
Tamar Kozlov	...	Wendy Green

Storyline

USA, estate del 1969. L'uomo sta per passeggiare sulla Luna, la guerra in Vietnam è scoppiata, arrivano i figli dei fiori, c'è il grande concerto di Woodstock. E proprio in un campo di villeggiatura per famiglie ebree non distante da Woodstock si trovano Alison e la famiglia in vacanza. Pearl, la madre è giovane ed attraente, ma sconfitta dalla vita (è rimasta incinta al primo rapporto amoroso ed ha dato addio ai sogni per dedicarsi ai figli). Marty, il padre è assente perché occupato nella ditta di televisori in cui lavora (tutti vogliono vedere lo sbarco sulla Luna). Un giorno arriva al campo un affascinante venditore di vestitini e cianfrusaglie : per Pearl è il colpo di fulmine. Vive un'intensa storia d'amore e di passione, culminata nella fuga a Woodstock, dove è corsa anche Alison con il suo primo ragazzo. Durante il concerto la ragazzina scorge la madre con l'amante e fugge. E' una esperienza difficile da capire. Il padre torna al campo e, venuto a conoscenza di tutto, cerca di...

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Plot Keywords:

woodstock | blouse | summer | moon | salesman | 

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, language and some drug use

Details

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blouse Man

Filming Locations:

Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$78,709 (USA) (26 March 1999)

Gross:

$4,741,987 (USA) (2 July 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Punch 21 Productions, Village Roadshow Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie on the lawn at the Jewish summer camp was King Rat.

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Goofs

Danny is reported to have been stung by wasps (which do not lose their stingers), but Danny was actually stung by hornets (which do lose their stingers).

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Quotes

Daniel Kantrowitz: Look, hippies.

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Crazy Credits

The producers wish to thank ... The Merchants of St-Viateur Street ...

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Connections

Features King Rat (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Uncle John's Band"
(1970)
Written by Jerry Garcia (as J. Garcia) and Robert Hunter (as R. Hunter)
Performed by The Grateful Dead (as Grateful Dead)
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

First impression was positive, now I'm not so sure

The first time I watched this movie, I think I was just captivated by the excellent performances. Viggo Mortenson, like William H. Macy and James Caviezel, is one of those whose roles are understated but so well executed and you anticipate their next work. Diane Lane is gorgeous, and I think that somehow is supposed to drive a pitiful feeling from us that a woman of so much beauty is shackled down to a normal existence. Liev Schreiber's role was the most successful of the principles. The real sympathy in this movie DOES go to him for spending the duration of it separated from his family, and his philandering wife, simply keeping his tv-repair job.

Rule #1 about this movie, don't see it with your significant other. The passionate scenes of a cheating spouse copulating with a free-spirited, self-centered vagrant under a waterfall will make both of you uncomfortable. The scene that bothered me most was the actual moon-landing, where while he's quarantined to the shop repairing TVs so everyone can watch the event she's making it with the blouse-man on the bus. As others have said in this forum, the main point at the end of the movie is that she was misunderstood by a caring husband, her needs weren't satisfied (we never mention his), and ulimately he'll have to forsake his matured take on life if he's ever going to have his wife back.

It was the equivalent of watching Dharma and Greg with explicit adultery, where once again the responsible spouse has to pick up the pieces and try to understand their act-before-thinking partner. This isn't a statement of gender specifics, I'm well aware that plenty of men are unfaithful and self-centered as well. I'm just tired of people in this country deciding we can be married and never compromise on anything. It simply won't work that way. Marriage is a give and take, and in order to function right we need movies that emphasize communication. A movie that tries to justify infidelity isn't going to enhance anyone. I love my wife dearly, and I don't need to see a movie like this one as a cautionary tale of what could be if her needs are left ungratified. See it if you like, but I could mention PLENTY more "chick flicks" which will leave you with a warm or sorrowful feeling at the end worth seeing, rather than an akward feeling that neither of you want to discuss.