The Cider House Rules

The Cider House Rules is a very deep movie and I also think it goes to a deeper and more emotional level than most movies, because abortion is a big controversy among all people. I also think that this movie, for every audience member, affected them each differently on a personal level for different reasons, some good and some bad. This movie has many roles and emotions throughout it about abortion, which is nice because it is not trying to convince the audience in anyway what is right and wrong. It also plays that same role during the movie, because Dr. Larch will perform abortions, even though they are illegal, because he thinks that it is the choice of the person, and he would rather do them correctly than letting them go to someone who does not know what they are doing and become injured. Homer on the other hand does not believe that abortions are morally right and refuses to perform them. This important issue puts somewhat of a moral wall between them and  in some way it makes their relationship more difficult, and eventually Homer leaves the care of Dr. Larch, who has been the only father figure Homer has ever known, to find his own path in life. I think he gets sick of being the older brother to all the orphans, and then a helper to Dr. Larch, that he wants to find himself. I find it weird that he leaves with complete strangers that came to the orphanage for an abortion, because he thinks he will see the world. They end up only going to the state line to the girl's family cider mill, which is not what I think he expected at all, because he did not get very far and ends up falling in love with this girl when her boyfriend leaves for the war. Another thing that sets Homer's fate apart is that he could not join the army, because he has a bad heart. The director did a great job with this film, the plot moves at the perfect pace, because it is not so slow that you lose interest and it is not to fast where you can not adsorb all the information that it is giving you. The performances by the actors/actresses are very strong and on key. I think that this movie has a humanistic approach, because of the abortion issue, and the way Homer is trying to find himself. This is also because this film has a moral statement and helps us gain a clearer understanding of some aspect of life and human condition. The acting, cinematography, lighting, editing, sound, and every other detail contributed to the communication of the film's message. I do not think that for me this movie influenced my life or changed any of my beliefs, but this could be different for every viewer.