Location: Killeen , TX
"Elm Falls"
Distributed by Miramax Films
Directed by Todd Field
Produced by Ross Katz & Graham Leader
Written by Susannah Grant
Cinematography by Roger Deakins
Film Editing by Peter Boyle
Art Direction by Christopher Freeman & Shannon Hart
Costumes by Melissa Economy
Music by Thomas Newman
Drama
Main Cast
James Caan as Gilbert Henderson
Faye Dunaway as Louise Henderson
Thomas Haden Church as Sam Henderson
Felicity Huffman as Rachel Henderson
Paul Dano as Jacob Henderson
Jessica Biel as Melissa Henderson
Tagline: "In a small town, a grandfather will finally connect with his grandchildren"
Synopsis: Gilbert and Louise are retired pastor and schoolteacher, respectively, who decided to spend two weeks of their summer vacation at the old family ranch in Elm Falls , South Dakota . They both left the ranch in the hands of their farm-loving son Sam and his poet wife Rachel. When the four have dinner on the first night, Sam receives a call from his gay actor son Jacob. Jacob tells Sam that is coming back to Elm Falls to visit the family and the old ranch for the summer. This excites both Sam and Rachel, for they haven’t their son since he left for college four years ago. This news also excites Louise, but not Gilbert because he detests Jacob and before Jacob left for college, he told the family that he was gay and Gilbert said that he never wants to see or speak to him again. And remembering this Sam doesn’t tell Jacob that his grandparents were also staying at the ranch.
Early next morning, while the family is having breakfast, Rachel gets a call from her fashion designer daughter Melissa, and she tells her mother that he is coming to visit the family for the summer. Everyone but Gilbert are excited to hear this news, and he goes upstairs and remembers the time when he scold at Melissa for having a child out of wedlock with an old friend of hers. For the next two days Sam, Rachel, and Louise prepare the house for the return of the children, while Gilbert acts strange and pretends to not notice the preparations. Louise notices his strange behavior, and one day as they were walking in the field, she talks to Gilbert. He tells her that he doesn’t want to see his grandchildren because they are sinners in his eyes and of God’s eyes. Louise believes and tells him that he should forget the past and try to see his grandchildren in a different way instead of sinners.
On the day of the arrival, Gilbert resides in his room while the rest of the family greets Jacob and Melissa. He finally comes down and gives looks at the two. They speaks a little, and when they mention about having a boyfriend and raising the child by herself, he walks out of the living room and goes to the field. Louise follows and confronts him by saying that he did was wrong and that he should apology for his actions. He refuses, and she stomps back into the house and up to her room. She sits on her bed and cries until Rachel comes and begins to comfort her. Meanwhile, Jacob and Melissa tell Sam why they detest their grandfather and how he ridiculed both of them when they were still living in Elm Falls . When Sam speaks of his father, Gilbert, who comes back after a while of thinking, comes in and said that he’ll try to get to know his grandchildren better, and he goes upstairs and apologizes to his wife. For the next week, Gilbert begins to see his grandchildren as different people, as they all go out on the evenings to Elm Falls and reminisce their past times living in the town. During the bond, he helps them with their problems they’re facing back at their homes in Los Angeles and New York, such as Jacob with the break up of his ex and the troubles he having like landing a big part in a movie and finance, and Melissa with her secret anorexic problem and struggles with being a single mom.
When the week ends, Jacob and Melissa both head home with having a new found relationship with their grandfather and advice on their lives. When returning home, Jacob finally lands a big part and becomes a successful actor and Melissa overcomes her anorexic problem and gets engaged to an accountant. Also, Gilbert and Louise decide to stay for a few more weeks at the ranch, and they walk out to field and talk about their lives and how proud they are of having such wonderful grandchildren, and in the end, they stand out on the field, watching the sunset with Sam and Rachel watching on the porch and hugging each other.
What the Press would say:
Director Todd Field puts together a powerful drama that is being called “one of the year’s best films” and “one of the best of the decade”. Academy Award-nominee James Caan delivers a strong performance as a grandfather who lives by his religious beliefs and thus shuns his own grandchildren, but then later grows to love them for who they are. Along with Caan, Academy Award-winner Faye Dunaway gives an amazing performance as his understanding and caring wife. But all together the film is an outstanding achievement, from the performances to the score, and it will go down as one of the best films of the decade.
For Your Consideration
Best Picture
Best Director – Todd Field
Best Actor – James Caan
Best Actress – Faye Dunaway
Best Supporting Actor – Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actress – Jessica Biel
Best Original Screenplay – Susannah Grant
Best Cinematography – Roger Deakins
Best Film Editing – Peter Boyle
Best Original Score – Thomas Newman
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