Based on the novel of the same name by Judith Guest, the movie tells the story of the Jarrett family, whose entire family is plunged into the disease of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the accidental drowning death of their eldest son.
The father has to deal with the pain of losing his son while trying to maintain family harmony. The mother becomes cold and hostile to her second son due to the loss of her eldest son, and the second son feels deep remorse after his brother’s death and even attempts suicide, but with the help of a psychiatrist, he gradually comes out of the shadows and begins to re-examine his relationship with his family, realizing self-redemption.
1980 / USA / Drama / Robert Redford / Donald Sutherland Mary Tyler Moore
Plot Synopsis:
Like most families, the Jarrett family leads a stable and peaceful life. Calvin (Donald Sutherland) is not only a reserved and upstanding attorney at work, but also plays the role of a father and a husband very well, and has been married to his wife, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), for more than twenty years. The two have an exceptionally stable relationship.
As the oldest son of the Jarrett family, Burke (Scott Doebler) enjoys more care and love than the youngest son, Connor (Timothy Hutton), cares for.
In an accident, Burke drowned, and the grief-stricken Beth took it out on Connor, who was with Burke at the time, causing the latter a great deal of pain and remorse, but with Calvin’s companionship and concern, he gradually healed his wounds.
However, when he once again summoned up the courage to ask his mother for warmth, Beth’s behavior once again plunged his heart into the ice cellar.
