A Walk on the Moon  

(also released as "The Blouse Man" in some countries) 

(1999 Director Tony Goldwyn) 

   Cast: Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Anna Paquin,

 Liev Schrieber, Tovah Feldshuh

 

In "A Walk on the Moon," the relative innocence, conflict and restless awakenings of the summer of 1969 are captured tenderly by Tony Goldwyn's direction of a solid ensemble cast. The themes of coming of age, wanting better things for the next generation, coming to terms with longing and dreams deferred all figure prominently in the story. Two historic moments: the first when the world watched the moon landing and the second as the counterculture came together at Woodstock resonate and are powerfully recreated as well as one family's long term dealings with the results of an unplanned pregnancy drive this story and remind us how the political is indeed personal and vice versa.

 As the film opens, we follow the Kantrowitz family on their annual summer vacation into upstate New York. It's an odd, all-ages summer camp as Julie Kavner (previously heard as Marge in "The Simpsons") routinely interrupts and at times drives the action of the film over a loud speaker to announce various vendors and events at the converted barracks/working class resort. The family does this every summer, by this time can't remember why, but in the last summer of the 60's in this particular location, change is imminent and how the family navigates these changes is the heart of the film. With a young son, a rebellious teen daughter and a mother in law in tow, Pearl (Diane Lane) exudes longing and ambivalence, as she appears trapped in a furnished rut. Anna Paquin who won an Oscar for her performance in "The Piano" plays Allison, brilliantly and mother/daughter chemistry, conflict and fascination with the novelty of hippies is palpable from the very first scene. 

Pearl's husband Martin (Liev Schreiber, who was electrifying as Orson Welles in "RKO 281") is loving, devoted, stretched to the limit emotionally and financially and doing his best, but is not able to see beyond bringing home the bacon. Tovah Feldshuh who play's Martin's no-nonsense, highly intuitive mother steals nearly every scene she's in with her warmth and humor. This is indeed a film of delightful performances and many sweet scenes. 

One of the working/alternative titles for this film was "The Blouse Man," even though "A Walk on the Moon" much more adequately encompasses the film and the time. One of the reasons why is that nearly everybody in the Kantrowitz family is talking about the new Blouse Man. Viggo Mortensen plays the Blouse Man as generous, mysterious, sexy, witty and someone who doesn't follow a schedule. He's not exactly a hippie as he has great business sense and impeccable manners, particularly with elders, but he's definitely influenced by the counterculture. Pearl has most likely never seen anything like him and is fascinated. Indeed, we don't even find out the Blouse Man's name until an unforgettable moment in the film that this reviewer will not spoil. Martin's inability to draw boundaries with his domineering boss may well end up costing him his marriage. When he leaves Pearl holding the family bag once too often in order to martyr himself to his job yet again, she falls into the arms of the naturally sweet Blouse Man. Pearl is then faced with a difficult but enviable dilemma: caught between two vastly different, but extremely appealing men with her family's integrity hanging in the balance.  

After a remarkable reenactment of Woodstock, the family deals with the part of this story that began 15 years before the summer of 1969. The ensemble shines dealing with an injury of one of the children and Liev Schreiber has the very best dramatic moment of the film in this scene. No one walks away without consequences, but these are lovingly and directly addressed and there is hope with which we come away from the film. "A Walk on the Moon" beautifully encompasses a time when the tribal, traveling shows that were the festival rock concerts, overtook the variety/vaudeville circuit. The film also addresses when we began to ask the question "Why?" about going, or sending loved ones off to war, as well as touching on the issues of those who lost loved ones to battle or gone missing.  The soundtrack is exquisite, and the inclusion of two Richie Havens' songs, "Freedom," in the film and "Follow," both in the film and on the soundtrack convey the true spirit of Woodstock, an openness and generosity that endures if we allow it to do so.                                 

Colleen Wallace

Review 2 :

A lovely "small" film i.e. never trying to be a blockbuster, portraying a time of change and a bygone atmosphere of 1969 small town Americana. This film is very well cast and beautifully filmed. 

It follows the story of Pearl, played by Diane Lane, who is an attractive young wife and mother. Her marriage is not awful, but unexciting.  She and her children are away on Summer holidays in a sleepy  holiday resort.  

World events and changing attitudes combined with her own wonderings of "what if" predispose Pearl towards attractive travelling blouse salesman Walker Jerome. Played by Viggo Mortensen, he is a benevolent, groovy and sensual free spirit. They are drawn easily to each other and indulge in a sexual affair, (indeed she has something to be feeling guilty about when her husband confronts her later in the film). 

The dynamics of these relationships are realistically portrayed, completely believable people in a real circumstance and the chemistry and portrayal of love-making between Pearl and Walker is frank and tangible.

Within the story is the emergence of Pearl's teenage daughter played by New Zealand actress Anna Paquin, who is shocked to see her mother and Walker  sensually connecting amid the Woodstock crowd, even as she herself is stealing away from home with her teenage boyfriend.  Family life turns pear shaped shortly after and confrontations abound. Again these confrontations are more like real life than movie cliches, in all their devastation. 

This is an endearing and enjoyable film and a wonderful trip back to the late 60's where the feel of that atmosphere is truly captured, including Woodstock.

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There are several pictures from this film on the Film Stills Gallery page.

 

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