Big Eden (2000)

Big Eden is a small, fictional northwestern Montana town.

Director:

Thomas Bezucha

Writer:

Thomas Bezucha

Stars:

Arye Gross, Eric Schweig, Tim DeKay

9 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arye Gross	...	Henry Hart
Eric Schweig	...	Pike Dexter
Tim DeKay	...	Dean Stewart
Louise Fletcher	...	Grace Cornwell
George Coe	...	Sam Hart
Nan Martin	...	Widow Thayer
O'Neal Compton	...	Jim Soams
Corinne Bohrer	...	Anna Rudolph
Veanne Cox	...	Mary Margaret Bishop
Douglas Sebern	...	John Cornwell
Parker Livingston	...	Andrew Stewart
Cody Wayne	...	Ben Stewart
Josie Adams	...	Becky Rudolph
Mark Twogood	...	Lloyd
Christopher Kendra	...	Bird

Storyline

Big Eden is a tiny fictional town in northwestern Montana, as Preston Sturges or Frank Capra might have envisioned it. Timber and Cowboy country. This is the story of Henry Hart, a successful New York Artist, who returns to the town of his childhood to care for the ailing grandfather who raised him. Back in Big Eden, Henry must come to terms with his relationship to Dean Stewart, his best friend from high School, as well as the object of his unrequited love. All these years Henry has been pining for a dream image of Dean from back then. This is also the story of Pike Dexter, the shy, unassuming Native American owner of the town's general store, who is as surprised as anyone to find himself falling in love with Henry. The people of Big Eden conspire and attempt to bring Henry and Pike together.

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Plot Keywords:

montana | artist | store | new york | unrequited love | 

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Taglines:

A Small Miracle

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Eden - Un petit miracle

Filming Locations:

Apgar Village, Montana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$26,198 (USA) (15 June 2001)

Gross:

$503,796 (USA) (26 October 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chaiken Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 117 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Jim Soams: There's so few nice surprises in life. Seems to me that it'd be kind of a shame to squander one of them, don't ya think?

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Achin', Breakin' Heart"
Written by E. Roc Hall
Performed by George Jones
Courtesy of Mercury Records Nashville
Under License from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Best little film ever made

Unbelievably wonderful performances by all the main actors in "Big Eden" make for one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Arye Gross plays Henry, a New Yorker who returns home to the rural West when to take care of his ailing grandfather. There he runs into his old friend Dean (played by the irresistible Tim DeKay), seemingly bisexual but it turns out he is straight, who is now divorced, with 2 children. The old fascination with Dean is rekindled - but meanwhile another man from his past, Pike (played with amazing depth and dignity by Eric Schweig), a Native American, is smitten with Henry.

Henry is no cook, so he arranges for the Widow Thayer - played by Nan Martin in the most delightfully memorable manner - to cook meals for he and his ailing grandfather Sam (the wonderful George Coe). Widow Thayer's meals are horrible (famously horrible) so Pike starts to cook Henry & Sam's meals himself without telling them. He is totally in love with Henry, but can't work up the nerve to let him know so. He just pours his love into the meals that he prepares.

Will Henry & Pike get together? Or will Henry remain smitten with Dean? This delightful film doesn't let you know until the end.

One of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen in a film takes place in this film: Pike sees a painting that Henry did of stars at night. He then tells a story from his tribe about children who floated up into the sky and became stars. I won't attempt to tell the story here, but I assure you that this one story is one of the most beautiful things you will ever hear or see. It applies perfectly to Henry's situation, but it is a story that anyone can relate to and learn from.

"Big Eden" is simple yet elegant. It is country yet universal. It is "Andy of Mayberry" for the modern era, a microcosm of how the world ought to be. So stunningly beautiful that you will want to watch it over and over and over again.

Bravo! to everyone associated with this loving, magnificent film!