A Walk on the Moon (1999)

The world of a young housewife is turned upside down when she has an affair with a free-spirited blouse salesman.

Director:

Tony Goldwyn

Writer:

Pamela Gray

Stars:

Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Bobby Boriello

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bobby Boriello	...	Daniel Kantrowitz
Diane Lane	...	Pearl Kantrowitz
Anna Paquin	...	Alison Kantrowitz
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Lillian Kantrowitz
Liev Schreiber	...	Marty Kantrowitz
Julie Kavner	...	P.A. Announcer (voice)
Stewart Bick	...	Neil Leiberman
Jess Platt	...	Herb Fogler
Mahée Paiement	...	Mrs. Dymbort (as Mahee Paiement)
Star Jasper	...	Rhoda Leiberman
Ellen David	...	Eleanor Gelfand
Lisa Bronwyn Moore	...	Norma Fogler
Viggo Mortensen	...	Walker Jerome
Victoria Barkoff	...	Selma Levitsky (as Vicky Barkoff)
Tamar Kozlov	...	Wendy Green

Storyline

USA, summer of 1969. Man is about to walk on the moon, the Vietnam War is breaking out, and there is the great concert in Woodstock. In a holiday camp for Jewish families not far from Woodstock, Alison and her family are on vacation. Pearl, the mother is young and attractive, but defeated by life, having become pregnant on her first loving relationship, forgetting her dreams to devote herself to her children. Marty, the father is absent because he is busily occupied working at a television repair business. One day a charming salesman arrives at the camp, selling clothes and knick-knacks. He lives an intense life of love and passion, culminating in an escape to Woodstock with Pearl, where events have a deep impact.

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Plot Keywords:

cheating wife | scantily clad female | female removes her clothes | adulterous wife | leg spreading | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, language and some drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

La tentación

Filming Locations:

Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$78,709, 28 March 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,741,987, 4 July 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Punch 21 Productions, Groucho Film Partnership

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much of the licensed music in the movie is by acts who performed at Woodstock, but two famous names associated with it actually were not there. Joni Mitchell felt she had to decline her invitation, but later composed a song ("Woodstock") about the festival. Big Brother and the Holding Company were never invited. Janis Joplin had left them the year before, and she performed there with the Kozmic Blues Band.

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Goofs

In the Woodstock scene where we see Pearl and Walker standing together there's the announcement, "Good morning! What we had in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000" and Richie Havens is singing his "on the spot" improvised song, "Freedom" which was actually the last song after his very long (almost three hours playing) musical set as he opened the festival on Friday at 5PM. The breakfast announcement was made by 'comic' Wavy Gravy on Sunday morning describing the "granola" gruel that was created/invented to feed (as many as possible) the 400K attendees at the festival.

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Quotes

Marty Kantrowitz: Sometimes things happen between people that make it impossible for them to stay together.

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Crazy Credits

The producers wish to thank ... The Merchants of St-Viateur Street ...

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Mod Squad/Doug's 1st Movie/A Walk on the Moon/Edtv/Among Giants (1999)

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Soundtracks

When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You)
(1928)
Written by Mark Fisher, Joe Goodwin and Larry Shay
Performed by Dean Martin
Courtesy of Capitol Records
By Arrangement with EMI Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Unfulfilled expectations…?

A touching look at life, human weaknesses, missed dreams, and opportunities.

Having read all of the posted reviews, what I find most interesting is the overall male consensus that the film portrays the husband as the guilty party for his wife's dissatisfaction. Being male, I find it hard to believe that so many of my gender feel so weak and betrayed.

Pearl, doesn't blame her husband and only learns to value and understand him better as also having missed out on some of life's potential. Also, I find it hard to accept the moralizing in the reviews. The film is not condoning the illicit relationship, the idyllic couplings and temporary `escape', are photographed as what we dream we've missed. Are acted out fantasies, to be moralized? Pearl knows, the fantasy can't last and a price will be paid.

Haven't we all missed out from time to time? How many men have fantasized (and acted out) Pearl's actions and expected to be forgiven. Why because they're men??? A well acted, beautifully filmed, and nicely scored remembrance, of the period of self exploration and human frailty.