The House of the Spirits (1993)

A rancher, his clairvoyant wife and their family face turbulent years in South America in this adaptation of Isabel Allende's best-seller.

Director:

Bille August

Writers:

Isabel Allende (novel), Bille August

Stars:

Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder

12 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Clara
Jeremy Irons	...	Esteban Trueba
Winona Ryder	...	Blanca
Antonio Banderas	...	Pedro
Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Tránsito
Vincent Gallo	...	Esteban Garcia
Joaquín Martínez	...	Segundo (as Joaquin Martinez)
Sarita Choudhury	...	Pancha
Glenn Close	...	Ferula
Miriam Colon	...	Nana
António Assunção	...	Man at Cattlemarket (as António Assumpção)
Julie Balloo	...	Young Lady
Frank Baker	...	Intelligence Officer
João Cabral	...	Soldier
Carlos César	...	Ambassador's Driver

Storyline

Chile, second half of the 20th century. The poor Esteban marries Clara and they get a daughter, Blanca. Esteban works hard and eventually gets money to buy a hacienda, eventually to become a local patriarch. He becomes very conservative and is feared by his workers. When Blanca grows up, she falls in love with a young revolutionary, Pedro, who urges the workers to fight for socialism. It is unavoidable that Pedro and Esteban are pitted against each other. Esteban tries to stop the love affair between Pedro and his daughter by all means possible but soon Blanca becomes pregnant and has a daughter. The void between father and daughter seems unbridgeable when Blanca moves in with Pedro.

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Plot Keywords:

patriarch | chilean coup d'etat | oppression | family saga | class conflict | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for violence

Details

Country:

Portugal Germany Denmark USA France

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

1 April 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

La casa de los espíritus

Filming Locations:

Cabo Espichel, Portugal

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$6,265,311

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constantin Film, Costa do Castelo Filmes, Det Danske Filminstitut

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on Isabel Allende's bestselling novel.

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Goofs

Alba is eating KFC, but the KFC name/logo wasn't adopted until the 1990s (it was formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken), it's in a basket instead of a box, and the chain wasn't franchised in South America in the 1970s anyway.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Esteban Trueba: It's good to be back.

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Alternate Versions

In France, the opening sequence of the movie is really different than in other countries. The movie is approx. 10 minutes shorter that the other versions

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Connections

Featured in La noche de...: Drácula de Bram Stoker (1995)

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Soundtracks

Chant Funéraire, op. 117
(uncredited)
Composed by Gabriel Fauré
Performed by La Musique des gardiens de la paix
Published by Durand S.A. Editions Musicales
Courtesy of Arpège S.a.r.l.

User Reviews

Engaging Tale of Forgiveness

This movie is based on the novel of the same title by Isabel Allende. It tells the story of the Trueba family over a span of 50 years. Jeremy Irons plays the passionate yet harsh patriarch of the family. He is a man of contradictions-in public and with his family, he is proper. Behind closed doors, he has many secrets-affairs, brothels, and a bastard son whom he utterly neglects. Time and fate make him confront these demons and he ultimately learns the blessing of forgiveness. Meryl Streep plays his psychically touched wife like an angel-she is so ethereal she seems of the spirit world. Glenn Close plays her love-starved sister-in-law;she conveys her desperation so adeptly. Meryl Streep treats her as a real sister and showers sisterly affection on this poor creature. It is a spellbinding tale and one that has relevance to all families.