A Home at the End of the World (2004)

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Hours" comes a story that chronicles a dozen years in the lives of two best friends who couldn't be more different. From suburban Cleveland in... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Mayer

Writers:

Michael Cunningham (novel), Michael Cunningham (screenplay)

Stars:

Sissy Spacek, Colin Farrell, Dallas Roberts

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew Chalmers	...	Bobby Morrow (1967)
Ryan Donowho	...	Carlton Morrow
Asia Vieira	...	Emily
Quancetia Hamilton	...	Dancing Party Guest
Jeff J.J. Authors	...	Frank (as Jeffrey Authors)
Lisa Merchant	...	Frank's Date
Ron Lea	...	Burt Morrow
Erik Smith	...	Bobby Morrow (1974)
Harris Allan	...	Jonathan Glover (1974)
Matt Frewer	...	Ned Glover
Sissy Spacek	...	Alice Glover
Colin Farrell	...	Bobby Morrow (1982)
Dallas Roberts	...	Jonathan Glover (1982)
Robin Wright	...	Clare (as Robin Wright Penn)
Shawn Roberts	...	Club Boy

Storyline

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Hours" comes a story that chronicles a dozen years in the lives of two best friends who couldn't be more different. From suburban Cleveland in the 60s, to New York City in the 80s, where they meet an older woman, the film charts a journey of trials, triumphs, loves and losses. Now the question is: can they navigate the unusual triangle they've created and hold their friendship together?

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Plot Keywords:

friend | friendship | love | new york | new york city | 

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Taglines:

Family can be whatever you want it to be.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong drug content, sexuality, nudity, language and a disturbing accident

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 2004 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Uma Casa no Fim do Mundo

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$64,728 (USA) (23 July 2004)

Gross:

$1,029,017 (USA) (22 October 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment, John Wells Productions, Killer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Is an adaptation from Michael Cunningham's 1990 novel of the same name, which in turn was expanded from a short story entitled "White Angel", published in the New Yorker in 1988.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie when Jonathan walks in the house, and Bobby is still standing outside. The light turns on in the upstairs window at the same time Jonathan is seen walking inside the first floor window. Yet they are supposed to be alone at the house.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Emily is having sex with Carlton and sees Bobby in the doorway]
Emily: Oh my god!
Carlton Morrow: Come on, Em, Bobby doesn't care!
Emily: I care!
Carlton Morrow: Just relax!
Emily: Kiss my ass!

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Connections

References Sunset Blvd. (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Somebody to Love"
Written by Darby Slick
Performed by Jefferson Airplane
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label, a Unit of BMG Music
Under License from BMG Film & Television Music

User Reviews

A touching movie from a great novel

Michael's Cunningham's book is so moving I was afraid to be deeply disappointed by the movie adaptation. Although 90 min is barely enough to narrate the story in its emotional complexity, the movie is very faithful to the book, probably because the screenplay is from Cunningham himself. The acting is excellent, and the soundtrack featuring Laura Nyro is beautiful, and if some of the book's interest is lost in translation, it still makes a pretty good movie. I find some detractors' arguments pretty amazing, as if all they'd watched was the trailer. To suggest that after Jules & Jim any movie containing a threesome is worthless, that any movie taking place in the 70s-80s is obsolete, that there was too much or not enough sex scenes, or that the AIDS theme is not developed enough, is plain ludicrous. This is not a movie about an era, about homosexuality, or about the AIDS epidemics. This is about (re)creating a place out of time and geography, where the world makes sense (again). A home, in other words. This is about loving another being (or two, since one is never complete, never enough) irrespective of family links, gender, and the established social codes. The characters are struggling to escape the rules to enjoy the "big noisy world around" and find a natural place in it. They are the opposite of stereotypical characters, at least once they are fully revealed to themselves. As for the end, it is not "unconclusive", it is what is called an open ending, and probably in this case the perfect ending, which means the only possible one. My advice: watch it, and read the novel too.