Sad suburban tale

Rating: 8/10 (24 February 2009)

The 1950s in America look in retrospect peaceful and prosperous years, despite the Cold War, but many citizens found the security and comfort of suburban living claustrophobic, especially those who had fought in the Second World War and embraced danger. Richard Yates captured these anxieties in his 1961 novel with his "perfect couple" Frank and April Wheeler (Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet). Ironically it is April, once an aspiring actress, who wants a change from bringing up their two lovely children in their leafy suburb in Connecticut even though Frank is bored by his city job in machinery sales. She sells him her idea of working in Paris ("the one place overseas you said you really liked"). But it involves her working at the US embassy as a secretary (at fabulous money) while Frank has a sabbatical, supported by his wife. Frank's mates in the office don't think it's such a great idea and Frank starts to have doubts, as well as an affair with his secretary. Then April becomes pregnant again.
Without giving away the story, it can be said that things do not work out for our protagonists. Americans like happy endings but Richard Yates (and Sam Mendes) are not about to give them one. The period is beautifully invoked; I was reminded of Todd Haynes's tribute film "Far from Heaven" (2002) which refers to the 1950s melodramas of Douglas Sirk ("All that Heaven Allows"). The minor characters are also a delight, particularly Kathy Bates as the local real estate agent and Michael Shannon as her brain damaged but brutally frank son. But this is nevertheless a sad story. Being a child of those golden years of parents who didn't throw over the traces I don't remember much unhappiness, but I do remember that people who did not fit in rather stood out  respectability had a narrow range.
The following two decades saw a revolution in personal relationships and a reassessment of the role of women our society. It's hard to say if Yates and Mendes are blaming society for their character's ills or blaming the characters for passing up the opportunity for more freedom. Perhaps both factors are at work, but there's no doubt people became less timid in the next decade. We feel sorry for Frank and April but at the same time annoyed they do not break out. Revolution might well have been the better option.