Starring: Kathryn Erbe, Albert Finney, Kyle MacLachlan, Piper Laurie, Suzy Amis, Alfre Woodard, Jill
Clayburgh, Ethan Hawke
Director: Bruce Beresford
Producers: Richard D. Zanuck and Lili Fini Zanuck
Screenplay: Alfred Uhry based on the novel by Josephine Humphreys
Music: Georges Delerue
Released by MGM
One day, Lucille Odom (Katherine Erbe) comes home from school to find that her mother (Jill Clayburgh) has left. According to the short farewell note, it's not a sudden decision, but something that has been building for a long time. Predictably, Lucille's father, Warren (Albert Finney), is devastated by what has happened. When he seems unable to put his life back together, Lucille calls on her big sister, Rae (Suzy Amis), for help. Rae arrives with her husband, Billy (Kyle MacLachlan), in tow, and a surprise: she's pregnant.
Rich in Love is rich in character but lean in plot. The movie boasts a group of believable, three- dimensional personalities. We can understand and empathize with each of them -- their flaws, their fears, their dreams, and their hopes. Due in large part to a screenplay that shies from stereotyping, these people come across more as human beings than scripted characters, with the strengths and foibles common to real people.
For the most part, the story is told through the eyes of Lucille, the youngest of two daughters. As she watches her family fall apart, she tries to be brave, but the front she puts on is a sham that, in Billy's words, hides a lot of love. Kathryn Erbe, the young actress who plays Lucille, gives a genuine, heartfelt performance.
Albert Finney, who seems at home in almost any role, conquers this one with aplomb. He masters Warren with as much ease as he does the Southern accent. As written, Finney's character might not be the most interesting of men, but the actor infuses him with life and keeps him from becoming the maudlin cliche that is the unfortunate destiny of many abandoned motion picture spouses.
Rich in Love is mostly about emotions and relationships. The plot itself is unremarkable. Not a lot happens -- the movie depends upon the characters to enrapture the audience. There are several story lines with dramatic potential that are accorded only cursory attention. One of these (relating to Lucille's birth) had me thinking and wondering long after the people on screen had put it aside.
Rich in Love is a slice-of-life film in the truest sense of the word. As such, although it has a clearly-defined beginning, the end is less obvious. An attempt at closure is made, but the final scene rings false. The ending aside, Rich in Love has a lot going for it, including a certain warmth and character insight that many movies lack. The story may be out-of-focus, but that's generally the way life is.
© 1993, 1996 James Berardinelli