Housekeeping: The Movie

Rather a funny title, but did you know that there really is a movie called Housekeeping? Such a dreamy, sleeper film which came and went and now plays at dreadful times like 3 a.m. on TV. It deserves better than the Late Night Graveyard.

Roger Ebert liked Housekeeping. He's not one to scatter gold stars around like bread crumbs for birds, but he gave it four-out-of-four stars. Here is his review.

Eleven years ago Tom and I watched Housekeeping together. On a Tuesday, I think. At odd, quiet times on Wednesday he shook his head and said, "That was a strange movie. Really weird."

A couple times on Thursday, out of the silence he said the same thing. I just smiled. I couldn't shake it off of me either-- I didn't want to.

When you reach the part where Sylvie and Ruthie cast off in the little row boat out upon the cold, early-morning lake, it's as though suddenly you've walked into someone's dream. And you know you won't be able to escape until that someone awakens--yet you hope they never do. Especially the end being what it is.

Do I have you intrigued?

Housekeeping was taken from a first novel by Marilynne Robinson. You read her similies and hang your head because you know yours will never sing like hers, nor be as luscious--like mind sorbet.

The movie or the book--take your pick. Both will make you feel like a teenager with a hundred dreams on the threshold of birth.

***

For more reviews about Housekeeping, click here. (Scroll down, down, down...)