The Magic of Ordinary Days (2005) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Brent Shields

Writers (WGA):

Ann Howard Creel (novel)
Camille Thomasson (teleplay)

Release Date:

30 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Pregnant out of wedlock, an educated young woman is pressured by her father into an arranged marriage with a lonely farmer in this drama set during WWII. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Keri Russell	...	Livy
Skeet Ulrich	...	Ray Singleton
Mare Winningham	...	Martha
Tania Gunadi	...	Florence
Gwendoline Yeo	...	Rose
Stephen Strachan	...	Hank (as Steve Strachan)
Katie Keating	...	Ruth
Ken Pogue	...	Reverend Case
Eric Winter	...	Walter
Jane McGregor	...	Abby
Daryl Shuttleworth	...	Reverend Dunne
Brayden Bullen	...	Hank Jr.
Sam Dyer	...	Chester
Mary Black	...	Marian Case
Jackie Robbins	...	Mrs. Pratt

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Empire Pictures

Beautiful story of unselfish love.

What I like about this story is it's obvious contrast to today's popular thought. Livy's pregnancy throws all her dreams into jeopardy. Today's world would have a "quick and easy" solution to her "problem," but children still had some degree of respect for their parents' wishes in the war-hardened America of the 1940s. Her daddy's plan wasn't easy to stomach, but as Ray said, this marriage of convenience between a troubled young lady and a rock-solid family man in training might just be "God's will." I highly recommend this film to anyone wanting a refreshing look into a simpler time, where "simple" people did the right thing, regardless of the personal sacrifice. What they ended up with was often far greater than they ever dreamed of in the first place.