The Cider House Rules is a 1999 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström from a screenplay by John Irving, based on Irving's 1985 novel. Its story follows Homer Wells, who lives in a World War II–era Maine orphanage run by a doctor who trains him to be an OB/GYN, and his journey after leaving the orphanage. The film stars Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Michael Caine, Jane Alexander, Kathy Baker, Kieran Culkin, Heavy D, Kate Nelligan, and Erykah Badu.
The film was produced by Miramax Films and FilmColony, and it had its world premiere at the 56th Venice International Film Festival. It was given a limited release by Miramax Films in the United States on December 10, 1999, followed by a wide release on January 7, 2000. It grossed $110,098 in its opening weekend and $88.5 million worldwide against a budget of $24 million. It was positively reviewed and has a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film won two Academy Awards: Irving won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Michael Caine won his second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with four other nominations at the 72nd Academy Awards. Irving documented his involvement in bringing the novel to the screen in his book My Movie Business. Since 2011, a portion of the movie's instrumental theme song, composed by Rachel Portman, has accompanied the Pure Michigan logo in commercials for Michigan's tourism industry and at the end of many movies and national TV series filmed in that state.
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Plot
Homer Wells grows up at St. Cloud's, a Maine orphanage directed by avuncular Dr. Wilbur Larch. Dr. Larch is addicted to ether, and he secretly performs abortions. Conditions at the orphanage are spartan, but the children have love and respect from their caretakers, and they are like an extended family. Older children, such as Buster and Homer, look out for the younger children, and in particular care for those who are sickly. This includes Fuzzy Stone, who was born prematurely to an alcoholic mother and suffers from a respiratory disease, thus spending most of his time beneath a plastic tent ventilated with a breathing apparatus. Each night before sleeping, Dr. Larch says to the children "Good night, you Princes of Maine! You Kings of New England!" as both an encouragement and a kind of blessing.
Homer, the oldest of the orphans, is very intelligent, helpful, and even-tempered. He was returned to St. Cloud's twice by foster parents. The first family felt Homer was too quiet (due to orphanage babies soon learning that crying is pointless). The second beat him. Due to Homer's nature, Larch trains him in obstetrics and abortions as an apprentice, despite Homer never having attended high school. Homer disapproves of abortions, and although Larch has trained him, Homer refuses to perform them. After several years, Homer is very skillful and confident in performing obstetrical duties. Larch wants Homer to take over after he retires, but Homer feels it is impossible, as he lacks formal medical education and he wants to see the outside world beyond the orphanage.
One day, Dr. Larch performs an abortion on Candy Kendall, who is accompanied by her boyfriend, Wally Worthington, an Air Force pilot on leave from service. Wally's mother, Olive, owns the Worthington family apple orchard estate. Wally returns to his World War II service, but Homer is exempt thereof, diagnosed by Dr. Larch as a heart condition patient. Homer leaves to live as a worker of the estate's Cider bunkhouse.
While Wally is away, Candy starts flirting with Homer, leading to an affair. Homer picks apples with Arthur Rose's team of migrant workers, employed seasonally at the orchard. A list of rules for its occupants is posted in the Cider House, which the illiterate migrant workers cannot read. Homer reads them the list, so the workers can now follow or ignore the rules as they wish. Homer and Candy become much closer during harvest and spend more time together while Wally is fighting in Burma. Meanwhile, at St. Cloud's, Fuzzy Stone succumbs to his illness and dies. Dr. Larch and the staff conceal his death from the other orphans, telling them that Fuzzy was adopted.
Production
An adaptation of The Cider House Rules by John Irving was first announced in May 1991 to be produced by Beacon Pictures and directed by Phillip Borsos and star Matthew Broderick. In January 1997, it was announced FimColony had acquired the rights to the novel and was in the process of adapting it. In February 1997, the film was reported moving forward at Miramax Films with director Michael Winterbottom and Ethan Hawke in talks to star. Later that month, it was reported Billy Crudup was in talks to star. By April 1998, Winterbottom had left the project and Miramax Films had signed Lasse Hallström as director. The following month, Leonardo DiCaprio had reportedly been considered to star in the film. By August of that year, Tobey Maguire had been signed on as the film's star.
Music
The film soundtrack consists of the original score composed by Rachel Portman. The album was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score (lost to the score of Le violon rouge) and the Grammy Award for "Best Score Soundtrack Album" (lost to the score of American Beauty).
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 71% approval rating, based on 112 reviews with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads "The Cider House Rules derives affecting drama from wonderful performances, lovely visuals, and an old-fashioned feel." It also has a weighted average rating of 75 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Leonard Maltin awarded the film a rare four-star rating. By contrast, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded it just two stars, stating the film "is often absorbing or enchanting in its parts. Michael Caine's performance is one of his best, and Charlize Theron is sweet and direct as the girl...The story touches many themes, lingers with some of them, moves on and arrives at nowhere in particular."
Certificate
In the United States, the film was given a PG-13 certificate by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and in the United Kingdom, it was given a 12 certificate by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which meant that anyone aged 12 or over could see it. However, in Ireland, the film was given the strictest possible rating, 18. According to Ireland's Film Censor, Sheamus Smith, this was because of its themes of abortion, incest, and drugs. At the time, Ireland had a constitutional ban on abortion, which would not be lifted until 2018.