Empire Falls (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers (WGA):

Richard Russo (novel)
Richard Russo (teleplay)

Release Date:

28 May 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Every small town has a big story

Plot:

A decaying New England town is the backdrop for its unique citizens, lead by unassuming restaurant manager Miles Roby.

Plot Keywords:

Maine | Restaurant | New England | Small Town | Wedding

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Ed Harris	...	Miles Roby
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Charlie Mayne
Helen Hunt	...	Janine Roby
Paul Newman	...	Max Roby
Robin Wright Penn	...	Grace Roby
Aidan Quinn	...	David Roby
Joanne Woodward	...	Francine Whiting
Dennis Farina	...	Walt Comeau
William Fichtner	...	Jimmy Minty
Estelle Parsons	...	Bea
Theresa Russell	...	Charlene
Kate Burton	...	Cindy Whiting
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Horace
Trevor Morgan	...	Zack Minty
Danielle Panabaker	...	Tick Roby
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	John Voss
Nesbitt Blaisdell	...	Father Tom
Adam LeFevre	...	Father Mark
Stephen Mendillo	...	Bill Daws
Larry Pine	...	Otto Mayer / Narrator
Miles Chandler	...	Young Miles
Kortney Adams	...	Nurse
David Altshuler	...	Inspector
Doree A. Austin	...	Mrs. Rodrigue
Matt Blumm	...	Miles at 20 years (as Matthew Blumm)
Michael Brockman	...	Justice of the Peace
William Clark	...	Man at Bar
Matthew Dixon	...	Banker
Bradley J. Van Dussen	...	Man on Beach
Troy Faucher	...	Young Policeman
Bryant R. Garrett	...	Thank You Patron
Stephen E. Hodgdon	...	Strong Bagger #1
Birdie Newman Katz	...	Frowzy Woman (as Birdie Katz)
Wilda Keem	...	Housekeeper
Tina Konstantoulakis	...	Maud
June Marie Krumholz	...	DMV Clerk
Carey Lowell	...	Francine at 40 years
Josh Lucas	...	Young Max
David Montgomery	...	Fisherman
Vincent Lynne-O'Brien	...	Restaurant Manager
Gail R. Pelotte	...	DMV Clerkette
Dan Pleva	...	Slick Man
Scott Riccio	...	DMV Patron
Delia Robertson	...	Candace
Timothy J. Ryan	...	Brian
Linda Saulter	...	Secretary
Adam L. Sirois	...	Officer Wynn
James K. Small	...	Strong Bagger #2
Tony Takacs	...	Justin
Emily Wachtel	...	Florida Bartender
Kaile R. Warren Jr.	...	Workman
Claire Winters	...	Young Cindy
Harold Withee	...	Waiter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lawrence P. Bloom	...	Empire Grill Patron (uncredited)
Sean Demers	...	(uncredited)
John Ferus	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Anna Fields	...	Lydia (uncredited)
Steve Flynn	...	Slickman #2 (uncredited)
Sarah Rachel Isenberg	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Seba Johnson	...	Key West Bar Patron (uncredited)
Adam LaFramboise	...	Valet / Beach Goer (uncredited)
Lynne McGhee	...	(uncredited)
Thomas Olson	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Stephen O'Neil Martin	...	Maintenance Crew Member (uncredited)
Christopher S. Porter	...	Diner Customer (uncredited)
Laura Robb	...	(uncredited)
Jennywren Sanders	...	(uncredited)
Zoe Zanidakis	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Schepisi

Writing credits (WGA)
Richard Russo		(novel)
Richard Russo		(teleplay)

Produced by
Paul Newman	....	executive producer
Marc E. Platt	....	executive producer (as Marc Platt)
Fred Schepisi	....	executive producer
Scott Steindorff	....	executive producer
William Teitler	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Grabowsky

Cinematography by
Ian Baker		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kate Williams

Casting by
Cameron Bonsey
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Stuart Wurtzel

Art Direction by
John Kasarda

Set Decoration by
Maria Nay

Costume Design by
Donna Zakowska

Makeup Department
Marleen Alter	....	additional makeup artist
Colleen Callaghan	....	hair department head
Rose Chatterton	....	hair stylist
Gloria Grant	....	key makeup artist
Michael Hancock	....	designer: special makeup & prosthetics
Jeri La Shay	....	additional makeup artist (as Jeri LaShay)
Barbara Maggi	....	additional makeup artist
Suzy Mazzarese-Allison	....	hair stylist (as Suzy Mazzarese Allison)
Brenda McNally	....	assistant hair stylist
Jennifer Santiago	....	hair stylist
Toy Van Lierop	....	makeup department head
Toy Van Lierop	....	makeup designer
Jeni Zaharian	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Sharon Mann	....	unit production manager
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor: Los Angeles
Sylvia Walker-Wilson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bobby Blyle	....	additional second assistant director (as Bobbie Blyle)
Frank Capra III	....	first assistant director
Jonathan Capra	....	second second assistant director
Danielle Rigby	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mark Bachman	....	sign painter
Liz Bonaventura	....	charge scenic (as Elizabeth Bonaventura)
Daniel Boxer	....	property master
Brian Buckley	....	set dresser
William Rob Chalk	....	on-set dresser (as William 'Rob' Chalk)
Danica Chipman	....	set dresser
Janet Cleveland	....	scenic artist
Lorenzo Contessa	....	storyboard artist
David Costello	....	scenic artist
Michael Davis	....	construction coordinator
Steve DeBoer	....	location foreman
Tracey A. Doyle	....	assistant set decorator (as Tracey Doyle)
Beth Eisen	....	scenic assistant
Jennifer Engel	....	key set dresser
Franco Esile	....	key set dresser
Franco Esile	....	leadman: re-shoots
Francis L. Foley	....	carpenter (as Frank Foley)
Rafael Fraguada	....	second gang boss (as Raphael Fraguada)
Julia Garrison	....	scenic artist
David Godfrey	....	labor foreman
Michael D. Harrell	....	assistant property master (as Mike Harrell)
Mary Hopkins	....	scenic artist
Richard Houpert	....	carpenter
James Hurd	....	carpenter
Rumiko Ishii	....	graphics artist
Tim Jackson	....	assistant head greensman
William Karp	....	carpenter (as Bill Karp)
Nora Kasarda	....	art department coordinator
Joel Klaff	....	draper
Gerald Langlykke	....	carpenter
C. Kent Lanigan	....	additional property assistant (as Kent Lanigan)
John Luizzo	....	set dresser
Eric Matheson	....	construction coordinator
John 'Butch' McCarthy	....	greensman (as Butch McCarthy)
Dudley Merritt	....	carpenter
Alexander Nesbit	....	general foreman (as Alexander Nesbitt)
Tim Payson	....	picture car co-coordinator
Beth Peterson	....	set dresser
Eugene Pope	....	carpenter
Mario Presterone	....	set dresser
Helen Rasmussen	....	buyer
Amy Safhay	....	head greensman
Robert Schleinig	....	key set dresser (as Robert Schlenig)
George Seavey	....	picture car coordinator
Steven Shellooe	....	on-set scenic
Tyris Smith	....	carpenter
Patricia Sprott	....	scenic foreman (as Pat Sprott)
David Stein	....	assistant art director
Jay Cail Stone	....	shop foreman (as Jay Stone)
Tom Warren	....	assistant art director
Kenneth Weinberg	....	set dresser (as Ken Weinberg)
Peter Wilcox	....	carpenter
Paul Williamson	....	leadman

Sound Department
Adam Blantz	....	cable person
David Boulton	....	technical engineer: ADR, NY
Peter Burgess	....	sound effects editor
Steve Burgess	....	foley
Matt Dubin	....	adr recordist: LA (as Matthew Dubin)
Brian Gallagher	....	adr recordist: NY
Tom Hartig	....	boom operator (as Thomas Hartig)
James Harvey	....	dialogue editor
Frank Lipson	....	sound effects editor
Jason Mannell	....	foley
Andrea M. Metty	....	adr facility coordinator: LA
Michael A. Morongell	....	technical engineer: ADR, LA (as Michael Morongell)
Andy Morrissey	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist: LA
Glenn Newnham	....	supervising sound editor
John Penders	....	dialogue editor
Paul Pirola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer: LA
Mark Ulano	....	sound mixer
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley

Special Effects by
Robert Hawkins Jr.	....	special effects technician
Michael Lord	....	special effects technician
David H. Watkins	....	special effects coordinator (as David Watkins)

Visual Effects by
Tony Clark	....	visual effects supervisor
Ian Cope	....	visual effects coordinator: Rising Sun Pictures
Travis Dutch	....	scanning and recording
Luke Emrose	....	compositor
Alex Fry	....	lead compositor
Sara Henschke	....	visual effects producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Bryan Jones	....	compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
Jason Madigan	....	visual effects lead artist
Adam Paschke	....	digital compositor
Paul Raeburn	....	compositor
Ben Roberts	....	digital compositor: Rising Sun Pictures
James Whitlam	....	visual effects executive producer: Rising Sun Pictures
Richard Yuricich	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunt coordinator
Bob Colletti	....	stunt driver
Preston Knauf	....	stunts
Corrie Roberts	....	stunts
Jimmy Romano	....	stunts
John Rottger	....	stunts
Erik Solky	....	stunts
P.J. Wagner	....	stunts (as PJ Wagner)
Dick Ziker	....	stunt coordinator (as Richard Ziker)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rick 'Cowboy' Ayotte	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Woody Bell	....	rigging grip best boy
Jan Burgess	....	assistant camera
Mike Cahoon	....	assistant camera
Dave Cambria	....	electrician (as David Cambria)
John Capron	....	electrician
Rick Cardillo	....	electrician (as Richard Cardillo)
Robert Clark	....	electrician
Michael J. Delaney	....	gaffer
Richard Dionne	....	grip (as Rich Dionne)
Jennifer Evans	....	grip (as Jen Evans)
Bill Flanagan	....	grip
Tommy Garcia	....	best boy grip (as Tom Garcia)
Sean T. Hannan	....	grip (as Sean Hannan)
Jeff 'Moose' Howery	....	dolly grip
Bobby Huber	....	key grip
Alan Jacoby	....	additional second assistant camera
Jessica Jennings	....	electrician
Tom Keenan	....	electrician
Scott Koenigsberg	....	camera loader: additional photography
Eric Komar	....	grip
Thomas Landi	....	best boy electric (as Tom Landi)
Brett Lood	....	grip
John R. Loyd	....	grip (as Ric Loyd)
Roger Marbury	....	electrician
Brent D. Mason	....	video assist production assistant
Robert McGavin	....	rigging gaffer (as Bob McGavin)
Tim Metivier	....	first assistant camera
Tim Metivier	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
James R. Mitchell	....	rigging best boy electric (as Jim Mitchell)
John Murphy	....	key rigging grip (as John W. Murphy)
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as K. Kenny Nishino)
Anthony Norton	....	electrician (as Tony Norton)
Wayne Paull	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Wayne Paull	....	director of photography: second unit
Aaron Pazanti	....	Steadicam operator
Aaron Pazanti	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Michael Peterson	....	electrician (as Mike Peterson)
Brian A. Pitts	....	electrician (as Brian Pitts)
David Presley	....	video assist
Michael E. Reynolds	....	electrician
Daryl Richardson	....	grip
Dave Rudolph	....	electrician (as David Rudolph)
Craig Striano	....	crane operator: Super Technocrane
Darrell Temple	....	grip
Demmie Todd	....	still photographer
Dale White	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Greg Wimer	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Cody P. Beke	....	casting assistant (as Cody Beke)
Dee Cooke	....	extras casting
Dee Cooke	....	location casting
Jessica Daniels	....	casting associate
Elizabeth Greenberg	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy Andrews	....	costume supervisor
Jodi Baldwin	....	costumer
Jeanne DuPont	....	assistant costume designer
Gail A. Fitzgibbons	....	costume supervisor (as Gail Fitzgibbons)
Lisa Lesniak	....	costumer
Katherine Hampton Noland	....	costumes
Margaret Palmer	....	costumer
Carolyn Schnitzer	....	key costumer
Christine Schultz	....	costumer
Marian Toy	....	assistant costume designer
Julia Van Vliet	....	costumer
J. Brad Watson	....	costumer (as Brad Watson)

Editorial Department
Annette Barker	....	post-production coordinator
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Billy Browne	....	assistant editor
Janet Gaynor	....	assistant editor
May Kuckro	....	first assistant editor
Cleo Myles	....	first assistant editor
Eddie Nichols	....	assistant editor
Kevin O'Connor	....	colorist: high definition
Tina Pacheco	....	first assistant editor
Matt Small	....	assistant on-line editor
Joe Violante	....	color coordinator: Technicolor

Music Department
Ross Cockle	....	music editor
Ross Cockle	....	second score engineer
Ricky Edwards	....	additional orchestrations
Ray Espinola Jr.	....	associate music supervisor
Robin Gray	....	scoring engineer
Slava Grigoryan	....	musician: solo guitarist
Evyen Klean	....	music supervisor (as Evyen J Klean)
Ron Layton	....	orchestra contractor
Stephen Magnusson	....	musician: solo guitarist (as Steve Magnusson)
Rudolf Osadnik	....	orchestra leader (as Rudi Osadnik)
Estelle Pizer	....	music preparation
John Rodgers	....	orchestra leader
Yuri Worontschak	....	scoring engineer

Transportation Department
Robert Albano	....	driver
Peggy Alter	....	coordinator: motorhome
Peggy Alter	....	local driver
Jodd Bowles	....	local driver
Bob Carnes	....	transportation captain (as Robert Carnes)
John Cronk	....	driver
James C. Donahue	....	driver (as James Donahue)
James Donahue Jr.	....	driver (as James Donahue II)
Robert Dudley	....	driver
David Duggan	....	driver (as Dave Duggan)
Gilbert Eartherton	....	driver (as Gilbert Eatherton)
Jimmy Flynn	....	transportation captain
Irving Gray	....	local driver
Richard Hanscom	....	driver
David Jenkins	....	local driver
James Jenkins	....	local driver
Sherman Kew	....	local driver
Leland 'Skip' Kittle	....	local driver
Don Levasseur	....	local driver
Robert Martini	....	driver
John McBride	....	driver
William McGrath	....	driver
Ray Meader	....	local driver
Gary Michaud	....	local driver
Ron Michaud	....	local driver
Zachary Miner	....	local driver (as Zac Miner)
Buckley W. Morgan	....	local driver (as Wayne Morgan III)
James Murphy	....	driver
Billy O'Brien III	....	driver (as William O'Brien III)
William O'Brien	....	transportation coordinator (as Billy O'Brien)
Josiah Pitchforth	....	local driver
Fred Pope	....	driver
Ray Poulin	....	local driver
Mario Presterone	....	driver (as Mario Presterone Sr)
Katie Quartarone	....	local driver
Randy Reynolds	....	local driver
Quinlan Sullivan	....	driver
Fred Tenenbaum	....	local driver
Vincent Troiani	....	driver
Mo Twine	....	local driver
Butch Wallace	....	local driver
Joseph Warren	....	driver
Robert D. Wright	....	driver (as Robert Wright)

Other crew
Kim Bonham	....	animal trainer
Kim Bonham	....	wrangler
Richard Bostwick	....	stand-in: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Earl Boyd	....	on-set medic
Robert Brewer	....	stand-in
Christian Brockey	....	assistant production coordinator
Christian Brockey	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Tessa Brophy	....	assistant: Mr. Teitler
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach: ADR
Jesse Cain	....	production assistant (as Jesse D. Cain)
Susan Christy	....	craft service
Ryan Cook	....	production intern
Kimberly Coro	....	stand-in
Judy Dickerson	....	dialect coach: ADR (as Judi Dickerson)
William Dickey	....	production intern
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer
Guin Dill	....	wrangler
Abby Eon	....	production assistant: additional photography
Susan Fernandez	....	production assistant
Charlotte Fleck	....	dialect coach: ADR
Mairead Gaffney	....	production secretary
Patrick Gorman	....	film courier (as Pat Gorman)
Nick Gosselin	....	production assistant
Julius Henderson	....	production assistant
Greg Hofmann	....	production assistant
David L. Huard	....	head of security
Ian Jacob	....	assistant location manager
Richard Keeshan	....	film courier (as Rich Keeshan)
Parrish Kennington	....	craft service
Lynn Kippax Jr.	....	location manager (as Lynn Kippax)
Kim Kraftsky	....	animal trainer (as Kim Krafsky)
Kim Kraftsky	....	wrangler (as Kim Krafsky)
Annie Kranz	....	accountant
Joey Levy	....	assistant: Mr. Platt
Linda Lilienfeld	....	research consultant
Stephen Lippross	....	first assistant accountant
Craig Lyons	....	accounting production assistant
Judy Maheu	....	trainer: Mr. Farina
Susan Malerstein	....	script supervisor (as Susan Malerstein-Watkins)
Kathryn Malone	....	assistant: Mr. Schepisi
Brent D. Mason	....	production intern (as Brent Mason)
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Steve McAuliff	....	wrangler
Peter McDonald	....	production assistant (as 'Big Pete' McDonald)
Derek Mitchell	....	research assistant
Erik Mygrant	....	production assistant
Tony Nagle	....	post-production accountant (as Anthony Nagle)
Ryan Newgard	....	photo double
Kerri Nicholas	....	location assistant
Shawn Nuzzo	....	film courier
Darice O'Mara	....	assistant: Mr. Newman & Ms. Woodward (as Darice Wirth)
Molly Page	....	production assistant (as Molly Page Prickitt)
Anne Quin-Harkin	....	assistant: Mr. Steindorff
Katie Quinn	....	production assistant
Deborah Ricketts	....	research consultant
Jeremy Roberts	....	payroll accountant
Karen Roberts	....	key accountant: additional photography
Karen Roberts	....	production accountant
Ramón Rodríguez	....	second assistant accountant (as Ramon A. Rodriguez)
Ulises Rodriguez	....	film courier
Jason Rody	....	key production assistant
Amy Saddler	....	animal trainer
Amy Saddler	....	wrangler
Nick Schepisi	....	production assistant
Gretchen Schlottman	....	craft service
Karen Scott	....	tutor: on-location
Sandy Shapiro	....	assistant location manager
Raina Silverman	....	location assistant
Karen Stark	....	location scout
John Steckert	....	production secretary: travel/housing
James Stiles	....	stand-in: Lou Taylor Pucci
Alex Stitt	....	designer: archival sequence
Alex Stitt	....	titles designer
Felicity Stoward	....	post-production accountant
Jennifer Struk	....	body double: Robin Wright Penn
Isabel Teitler	....	production assistant
Rebecca Thornell	....	clearance
Kira Turnage	....	stand-in
Kevin Vargus	....	production assistant
Ezra Vazquez-D'Amico	....	research assistant
Frank Verock	....	travel coordinator
Shannon Von Ronne	....	production assistant: first team
Rayshelle Willis	....	payroll accountant: additional photography
Caroline Wilmot	....	production office assistant
Sara Wilmot	....	clearances
Lisbeth Wynn-Owen	....	production coordinator
Tasha Zamsky	....	animal trainer
Tasha Zamsky	....	wrangler

Production Companies

• HBO Films (presents)
• Marc Platt Productions
• Aspetuck Productions
• Stone Village Pictures
• Falls Films Inc.
• Home Box Office (HBO)

Distributors

• HBO Films (2005) (USA) (TV)
• HBO Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• WoWow (2007) (Japan) (TV)

Special Effects

• Rising Sun Pictures (visual effects)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring (as Film & TV Unit A Program of American Humane [AHA 00729])
• Bowdoin College  courtesy of: Breckinridge Public Affairs Center
• Breckinridge Public Affairs Center  the producers wish to thank
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Colby College Museum of Art  the producers wish to thank
• Community of Kennebunkport, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Community of Norridgewock, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Community of Oakland, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Community of Ogunquit, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Community of Skowhegan, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Community of Waterville, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Community of York, The  the producers wish to thank: especially
• Deluxe Catering  caterer
• Film Victoria's Melbourne Office  post-production assistance: Victoria, Australia (as Film Victoria's Melbourne Film Office)
• Global Entertainment Partners  post production services
• Image Group  dailies telecine
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Kodak  filmed on
• Maine Film Commission  the producers wish to thank
• Maine State Police  the producers wish to thank
• Majestic Light  super technocrane provided by
• Moneypenny Services  post-production accounting
• Negative People  negative cutter
• Owen & DeSalvo Company  post-production accounting (as Owen & DeSalvo Co., CPA's)
• Panavision New York  lighting and camera equipment
• People of the State of Maine, The  the producers wish to thank (as The people of the beautiful State of Maine)
• Skowhegan High School  the producers wish to thank
• Sound One Corporation  digital sound recording: ADR, NY (as Sound One Corp)
• Soundfirm  post-production sound facility (as Soundfirm Australia)
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• The Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra  music performed by (as Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Town of Skowhegan  the producers wish to thank
• Town of Waterville  the producers wish to thank
• Waterville High School  the producers wish to thank
• Wilshire Stages, The  digital sound recording: ADR, LA (as Wilshire Stages)

Runtime:

Argentina:197 min | USA:240 min (2 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | Greece:K-13

Filming Locations:

Augusta, Maine, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

The football game in the movie was actually a scrimmage match between the local high school football teams, Skowhegan High School and Waterville High School. Most of the extras in the stands were residents of both towns.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Miles and Tick are sitting at the restaurant bar, the camera cuts from the two of them to a close up. When it returns a Sprite can magically appears in front of Tick.

Quotes:

Miles Roby: I think Father Tom is making off with the cash box again.
Father Mark: Yeah, I know. Don't worry, Ms. Koss will fetch him.
Ms. Koss: Come back here, you old bat! Father Tom! Father Tom! Bring that back!
Father Mark: Who says God has no sense of humor?

Movie Connections:

Featured in 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes

"Empire Falls": A Labor of Love!

Richard Russo's 483-page novel offers a multi-faceted story and a fascinating array of characters in a small town in Maine who are burdened by the weight of the past. At the heart of the story is the character of Miles Roby, the proprietor of a local grill. We learn of Miles' love that he felt for his deceased mother and the love that he feels for his young daughter. The story resonated with American readers, and Russo was awarded the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

For a film version of Russo's novel, it would be difficult to imagine the assembling of a finer cast for the quirky, eccentric characters of "Empire Falls." The unassuming and selfless Miles Roby is brilliantly performed by Ed Harris. Although Russo was initially leaning towards the actor James Gandolfini for this crucial role, Harris captures the sensitivity and emotional depth of Miles that few other actors could achieve. Other members of this stellar cast include Paul Newman (as Miles' crusty father Max); Joanne Woodward (as the town matriarch Francine Whiting); Danielle Panabaker (as Miles' daughter); Helen Hunt (as Miles' ex-wife Janine); Aidan Quinn (as Miles' brother David); Theresa Russell (as Miles' co-worker and confidante at the grill); Estelle Parsons (as Miles' mother-in-law); and Kate Burton (as Cindy Whiting and lifelong admirer of Miles). These performances were so rich that it was as if the actors had been studying the book and developing their characters for the past three years. This was a film production so faithful to its source that it would be impossible reread the novel without thinking of this enormously gifted cast.

Veteran film director Fred Schepisi led the cast with a sure-handed yet leisurely paced style. In Russo's novel, the scenes from the past are written in italics, placing the key love relationship of Miles' mother Grace and Charlie Mayne in bold relief. This crucial relationship unfolded in the film in a slightly grey haze, which conveyed a visual aura of the past. As performed by Robin Wright Penn and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the relationship of Grace and Charlie was one of the most touching among many in this stellar cast. Schepisi's transitional moments between past and present were brilliantly conceived in the film.

Russo's novel is a uniquely American saga, recalling such great works of naturalism as Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy." The story has great scope and deals with such themes as family dysfunction, small-town gossip, commerce and industry, political infighting, and, above all, family secrets. The painful layers of the past in the lives of the characters were carefully revealed to us and to the characters themselves. In one of the most moving sequences of the film, the past merges with the present, and the realization of Miles is that ultimately one must declare a "truce" with the ghosts from the past.

One of the readers affected by this powerful story was the actor Paul Newman, who had previously collaborated with Russo on the film "Nobody's Fool." Newman served as one of the film's executive producers. This HBO film adaptation of "Empire Falls" has been three years in the making, and the result is truly a labor of love.