Ordinary People (1980)
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A wealthy family struggles to navigate the emotional fallout of a tragic accident and a subsequent suicide attempt.
The story
The film follows the disintegration of a wealthy family in Lake Forest, Illinois after one son dies in an accident and the other son attempts to die by suicide. The surviving son, Conrad, has recently returned home after spending four months in a psychiatric hospital. He feels alienated from his family and friends and seeks help from a psychiatrist, Dr. Tyrone Berger, who learns that Conrad was involved in the sailing accident that killed his brother. Conrad is now dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and is seeking help to cope with his emotions while his parents struggle to maintain their composure and navigate their own grief.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The Jarretts, an upper-middle-class family in Lake Forest, Illinois, are trying to return to normal life after the accidental drowning of their older son, Buck, and the attempted suicide of their younger son, Conrad. Conrad, recently released from a psychiatric hospital, feels alienated and begins therapy with Dr. Tyrone Berger. While his father, Calvin, tries to connect with him, his mother, Beth, focuses on maintaining a facade of perfection, leading to a growing emotional distance between her and Conrad. Conrad begins dating a student, Jeannine, but continues to struggle with his trauma. Tensions peak before Christmas when a confrontation over a photograph leads to a heated argument between Conrad and Beth regarding her lack of support during his hospitalization. Following a trip to Houston, Conrad experiences a breakthrough with Dr. Berger, learning to stop blaming himself for Buck's death. However, Beth remains emotionally distant. After a final confrontation where Calvin questions Beth's ability to love, she leaves for Houston, leaving Calvin and Conrad to forge a stronger bond of mutual support.
- First release year
- 1980
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Redford
- Writers
- Alvin Sargent · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Donald Sutherland · Calvin Jarrett; Mary Tyler Moore · Beth Jarrett; Judd Hirsch · Tyrone C. Berger; Timothy Hutton · Conrad Jarrett; Elizabeth McGovern · Jeannine Pratt; M. Emmet Walsh · Salan; Dinah Manoff · Karen Aldrich; Fredric Lehne · Joe Lazenby
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- Grief; Family disintegration; Mental health; Parental neglect; Trauma
- Tone and mood
- Somber; Dramatic; Introspective
- Premise and plot tags
- Dysfunctional family; Psychological drama; Coming of age; Medical drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1976 novel of the same name by Judith Guest
- Content notes
- Suicide
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, praised for its performances and direction.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.50 · scale: 10 · review count: 105; CinemaScore · score: A+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Picture · Academy Awards · Win; Best Director · Academy Awards · Win; Best Adapted Screenplay · Academy Awards · Win; Best Supporting Actor · Academy Awards · Win; Best Motion Picture – Drama · Golden Globe Awards · Win; Best Director · Golden Globe Awards · Win; Best Actress · Golden Globe Awards · Win; Best Supporting Actor · Golden Globe Awards · Win; New Star of the Year – Actor · Golden Globe Awards · Win
- Production trivia
- Gene Hackman was originally cast as Calvin Jarrett.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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