it is hard to imagine that a movie which includes abortion and incest as prominent plot devices could be so sensitive , so delicate , so insightful and yes , even so enjoyable
.
somehow , the cider house rules manages to keep an even keel in the face of the harsh subject matter and allows a substantial amount of heart to shine through .
set in the 1940 's , the film tells the story of a unique young man named homer wells ( tobey maguire , ride with the devil ) .
an orphan , twice rejected as an infant by possible adoptive parents , he grows up in the care and under the tutelage of dr .
wilbur larch ( michael caine , little voice ) , father figure to the orphans of st .
cloud , obstetrician or abortionist to the unhappily pregnant women who come there seeking his help .
figuring that as long as homer was going to stay at the orphanage , he might as well be of use , dr .
larch begins teaching him all he knows about obstetrics .
soon homer is delivering babies like a professional .
he refuses to perform abortions , instead wondering why the couples just did n't behave more responsibly .
larch , too old and experienced to have such youthful ideals , marvels that homer " continues to have such high expectations of people .
"
such is the result of an insulated upbringing .
though skilled in certain medical procedures , homer remains woefully naive and ignorant about most everything else .
he finally figures that in order to find his place in the world , he must go out into it .
befriending a young couple who had come to see dr .
larch , he hitches a ride with them and parlays that into landing a job as an apple picker with a group of black migrant workers at the orchard where they lived .
thus , homer begins his worldly instruction , with new friend candy kendall ( charlize theron , the astronaut 's wife ) a willing tutor .
tobey maguire is well cast yet again as an inherently good man who is seeking answers to life 's questions . . .
many of which he was unaware needed to be asked .
he demonstrates a quiet strength and thoughtful curiosity that is both warm and appealing .
michael caine is , in a word , brilliant as the caring caretaker of these orphans , many of whom he helped to bring into the world . calling them " princes of maine , kings of new england " in his ritualistic goodnight , mr .
caine manages to communicate the love and commitment larch has towards these children without becoming maudlin or saccharine .
delroy lindo ( a life less ordinary ) has many powerful moments as mr .
rose , the strong and charismatic leader of the apple pickers whom homer joins .
director lasse hallstrom (
what 's eating gilbert grape ? ) and screenwriter / novelist john irving ( the world according to garp ) , who adapted his own work for this movie deserve much of the credit for the balanced approach to the sensitive subject matter .
regardless of one 's personal stand on the divisive matter of abortion , it is hard to imagine anyone becoming offended by the evenhanded treatment used by these filmmakers .
the title is a reference to a list of rules posted in the quarters of the illiterate apple pickers .
figuring the rules did n't apply to them since they did n't have a hand in writing them , they decide to ignore the list and make up their own rules as they go along .
dr .
larch , in his own way , acts similarly .
there is a danger in that line of reasoning .
god has also given us a set of rules .
unlike the list posted in the cider house , god 's rules , if followed , promise us benefits beyond our imagination .
and yet , many continue to ignore his " rules " preferring to make up their own as they go through life .
" trust in the lord with all thine heart ; and lean not unto thine own understanding .
" proverbs 3 : 5 [ kjv ]
just as a builder follows a designer 's blueprint or a conductor follows a composer 's score , why should n't we follow the rules of life given to us by life 's architect for our own blessing ?
manages to keep an even keel brilliant substantial amount of heart to shine through so sensitive , so delicate , so insightful and yes , even so enjoyable is well cast yet again