Northfork (2003)

Set in 1955, the residents of a small Montana community are forced to move their homes to make way for a new dam.

Director:

Michael Polish

Writers:

Mark Polish, Michael Polish

Stars:

Duel Farnes, Nick Nolte, Anthony Edwards

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Woods	...	Walter O'Brien
Nick Nolte	...	Father Harlan
Douglas Sebern	...	Mayor
Claire Forlani	...	Mrs. Hadfield
Duel Farnes	...	Irwin
Mark Polish	...	Willis O'Brien
Daryl Hannah	...	Flower Hercules
Graham Beckel	...	Marvin
Josh Barker	...	Matt (as Joshuin Barker)
Peter Coyote	...	Eddie
Jon Gries	...	Arnold
Rick Overton	...	Rudolph
Robin Sachs	...	Cup of Tea
Ben Foster	...	Cod
Anthony Edwards	...	Happy

Storyline

In a near-empty Northfork orphanage, Father Harlan gently tends to Irwin, an eight-year-old who lies between a dream state and death. As orphanage caretaker Harlan reads aloud about Northfork's years-ago forced evacuation to make way for a hydro-electric dam, Irwin's imagination takes flight. While a team of six men evacuate the last remaining citizens of the town, Irwin, too, invents a cast of characters to prepare himself for his own evacuation. (the above states the caretaker - who is actually the priest - is reading about a years-ago evacuation. In the movie, the evacuation is taking place as the boy lays dying!)

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Plot Keywords:

evacuation | caretaker | orphanage | dam | boy | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Antistasi mehris eshaton

Filming Locations:

Augusta, Montana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,900,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$61,481, 13 July 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,420,578, 28 December 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Classics,Romano Shane Productions,Departure Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mr Stalling says that he is waiting for a sign from God, when Walter O'Brien visits him at the ark. Walter imparts a tale about when the water has risen, men will come by in a boat to take him and the two Mrs Stallings's to safety. They will not go, because they are waiting for a sign and they will drown. And God will say, I sent you a boat, what more did you want? This story also appears in the The West Wing season one episode "Take This Sabbath Day" and is told by the Karl Malden character, Father Thomas Cavanaugh.

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Goofs

When Eddie and Arnold pay a visit to Jigger, after he stops shooting at them, Eddie and Arnold approach him. Jigger is sitting in a chair and holding a shotgun on his lap and not moving. A few shots later, the shotgun is in upright position with the butt on the ground. After they look at Jigger's feet, there's no sign of the shotgun so he must be holding it on his lap, again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Walter: [reading a letter] To the loving O'Brien family. It has been brought to our attention that the remains of a Mrs. Patricia O'Brien have yet to be excavated. Please make arrangements immediately.

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Crazy Credits

John Tuell special thanks

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Connections

References Diff'rent Strokes (1978)

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Soundtracks

I Don't Care
(1954)
Performed by Webb Pierce
Written by Webb Pierce and Cindy Walker
Courtesy of MCA Nashville
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

surreal and poetic

this is a very special movie, driven by imagery and character rather than by linear action or even plot. Things progress along two lines which eventually converge, that of the dying child cared for by the Father, and the evacuation of the valley. The child, delirious, is pulled back and forth between two realms, while the Father waits upon his dying. Nick Nolte plays this part with enormous sensitivity and restraint. The evacuation teams seem to suggest a parallel to the Biblical flood, and eventually the two lines of action merge into a dream state, as if the flood is waiting for the child, as well. James Woods gives a deceptively simple, finely nuanced performance, providing emotional depth and focus to the story line. The question seems to be, is the flood the waters of life, or the waters of death? Or is it both at the same time? The writers seem to feel that in the final analysis, there is no difference between the two. Rather than leaving one disheartened, this film uplifts.