Far from Heaven

2002 American-French film by Todd Haynes

Far from Heaven

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Todd Haynes
Written by| Todd Haynes
Produced by|

* Jody Allen
* Christine Vachon

Starring|

* Julianne Moore
* Dennis Quaid
* Dennis Haysbert
* Patricia Clarkson

Cinematography| Edward Lachman
Edited by| James Lyons
Music by| Elmer Bernstein

Production
companies

* Vulcan Productions
* Killer Films
* John Wells Productions
* Section Eight

Distributed by| Focus Features

Release dates

* September 2, 2002 (2002-09-02) (Venice)
* November 8, 2002 (2002-11-08) (United States)

Running time

| 107 minutes[1]
Countries| United States
France
Language| English
Budget| $13.5 million[2]
Box office| $29 million[2]

Far from Heaven is a 2002 historical romantic drama film written and directed by Todd Haynes, and starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, and Patricia Clarkson. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where Moore won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and cinematographer Edward Lachman won a prize for Outstanding Individual Contribution.

The film tells the story of Cathy Whitaker, a 1950s housewife, living in wealthy suburban Connecticut as she sees her seemingly perfect life begin to fall apart. Haynes pays homage to the films of Douglas Sirk (especially 1955's All That Heaven Allows, 1956's Written on the Wind, and 1959's Imitation of Life), and explores race, gender roles, sexual orientation, and class in the context of 1950s America.

Far from Heaven received numerous accolades, including four Academy Award nominations. For her performance, Moore was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild, and won at the Critics' Choice Awards, while Quaid was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild.

## Plot

[edit]

In 1957 suburban Connecticut, Cathy Whitaker seems to be the perfect wife, mother, and homemaker. Her husband, Frank, is an executive at Magnatech, a television advertising company. One evening, Cathy receives a phone call from the local police, who are holding Frank. When she picks him up, he says it is all a misunderstanding, but it turns out that he has been exploring the illicit underground world of gay bars in Hartford. In the midst of all of this, one day Cathy sees an unfamiliar black man walking in her yard. He turns out to be Raymond Deagan, the son of her late gardener, who is taking over his father's accounts.

Frank often stays late at the office. One night when he says he is working, Cathy decides to bring him dinner, and she walks in on him passionately kissing a man. He confesses to having had "problems" as a young man and agrees to sign up for conversion therapy. However, their relationship is strained, Frank's work suffers, and he increasingly turns to alcohol. Cathy runs into Raymond at a local art show and, to the consternation of onlookers, initiates a discussion with him about modern painting. After a party, Frank attempts to make love to Cathy, but he is unable to become aroused and accidentally strikes her when she tries to console him.

The next day, Raymond catches Cathy crying and asks her to run some errands with him. She agrees, and they wind up going to a bar in a black neighborhood, where Cathy is the only white person present. They are seen together on the street by a gossipy acquaintance of Cathy's, and the woman immediately begins to stir up scandal. When Cathy attends her daughter's ballet performance, the mothers of the other girls shun her. Frank also hears about Cathy and Raymond and, in response to his anger, Cathy denies having an other-than-professional relationship with Raymond and says she has fired him to quell the rumors. She then tells Raymond that their friendship cannot continue, as it is not "plausible".

Cathy and Frank go to Miami for New Year's to try to repair their marriage, but, at the hotel, Frank meets a young man and has another homosexual encounter. While they are gone, three white boys taunt and physically assault Raymond's daughter, Sarah, partly because of her father's rumored relationship with Cathy, and the girl is concussed by a rock thrown at her head.

Frank breaks down and tearfully tells Cathy that he has fallen in love with a man and wants a divorce. When Cathy learns what happened to Sarah, she visits Raymond, who says he is moving to Baltimore in two weeks, as the rumors have destroyed his business and led his African-American neighbors to throw rocks through his windows. When Cathy tells Raymond she is going to be single and asks if she can come visit him some time, he stoically, but gently, rejects her, saying he has learned his lesson and needs to do what is right for his daughter.

Cathy shows up at the train station to see Raymond off, and they silently wave to each other as the train leaves the station.

## Cast

[edit]

* Julianne Moore as Cathleen "Cathy" Whitaker
* Dennis Quaid as Frank Whitaker
* Dennis Haysbert as Raymond Deagan
* Patricia Clarkson as Eleanor Fine
* Viola Davis as Sybil
* James Rebhorn as Dr. Bowman
* Celia Weston as Mona Lauder
* Michael Gaston as Stan Fine
* Ryan Ward as David Whitaker
* Lindsay Andretta as Janice Whitaker
* Jordan Puryear as Sarah Deagan
* Bette Henritze as Mrs. Leacock
* Barbara Garrick as Doreen
* Olivia Birkelund as Nancy
* June Squibb as Elderly Woman
* J.B. Adams as Morris Farnsworth

## Production

[edit]

Haynes wrote the script for the film envisioning Moore and James Gandolfini as Cathy and Frank, respectively. While Moore joined the project immediately, Gandolfini was unavailable, due his commitments to The Sopranos. Haynes' next choice, Russell Crowe, believed that the role was too small, and Jeff Bridges wanted too much money.[3]

## Themes and analysis

[edit]

Far From Heaven focuses on several controversial issues of the mid-twentieth century, such as racism and miscegenation, as well as views on homosexuality and escapism during that time period, and presents these issues through the mise-en-scène and cinematographic conventions of a 1950s-style melodrama.[4][5][6][7] Utilizing the nostalgic mechanisms of a polished, period melodrama, the film challenges the typical sanguine nature of the genre in an effort to highlight the central conflicts of its main characters, Cathy and Frank Whitaker, while also simultaneously shattering the wholesome image of American life during this time period, which is typically romanticized in American culture.[5] Haynes employs these tactics and others, such as lighting and music, to highlight these pivotal developments and not only further the plot of the story, but create a sensory experience for the audience that lulls them into what appears to portray an idealized version of 1950s suburban American family life, but proves to be far from it.[7]

Andrew O'Hehir of Salon wrote that the film "bears a family resemblance to Sirk's 1955 All That Heaven Allows".[8]

### Racism and miscegenation

[edit]

Throughout Far From Heaven, one of the central conflicts faced by the main protagonist Cathy Whitaker comes from her attraction towards Raymond Deagan, the son of her recently deceased gardener, and how it develops in the face of her estrangement from her husband, Frank Whitaker, as he deals with his developing homosexual tendencies.[6] Set in the fall of 1957 in Hartford, Connecticut, the racial tensions emblematic of the era are reflected right away in the first scene Raymond makes an appearance, tending to his father's former duties as the Whitaker's gardener.[4] While Cathy is being interviewed for a society circular in her living room, she notices Raymond mulling around in her yard, and immediately becomes frightened, uneasy by the prospect of an unfamiliar black man. While her interviewer, Mrs. Leacock, suggests calling the police, Cathy walks outside to confront him and learns the circumstances of the situation and how he came to be there, after which she apologizes for her assumptions and demonstrates a capacity to see beyond his race and show sympathy for his father's recent passing. This is an action that is observed closely by Mrs. Leacock through the window, and ultimately makes its way into her article profiling Cathy and her "kindness to negroes".[6]

Presenting this particular issue so early on in the film, there is a clear contrast drawn between Hartford's suburban idyllic autumnal setting and the reality of the social order that dominates the everyday life of the Whitakers and the people in their lives.[4] As Frank's difficulties continue to develop, Cathy finds great solace in befriending Raymond and ultimately comes to develop feelings for him as a result.[6] These feelings, however, prove to be a huge social taboo in this time period, and are met with anger and prejudice in affluent New England. With the developing historical events of the Little Rock Crisis serving as the contextual backdrop to the struggle in Far From Heaven, it is in this struggle that one of the central themes of the film comes to the forefront, and is continually reintroduced through segregational policies of the era. Over the course of the film, we observe Cathy and Raymond's interactions being highly scrutinized by the different members of their own respective communities, as well as examples of Jim Crow-like practices that were commonplace during this era, such as being unable to sit next to each other at a local lunch counter.[6] Frank and Cathy's vacation to Miami exemplifies this when a young African-American boy jumps into the hotel pool where Cathy and Frank are vacationing. Not only is the boy swiftly removed from the pool, but the white guests who were swimming at the time rapidly exit the pool area in disgust, mortified that the water and surrounding area had been shared, and therefore tainted, by a black person.[4][6]

Rebecca Sherr wrote in her essay "(Not) queering "white vision" in Far from Heaven and Transamerica":

> Implicitly, this scenario illustrates white Americans' fear of black bodies, bodies that for whites symbolize "contamination"; and "contamination" in turn signifies the underlying fear of miscegenation. The camera moves between Cathy's point-of-view looking out at the pool, and then the camera turns and focuses directly on Cathy so that she becomes the object of the gaze. Her eyes remain half-hidden behind sunglasses, which act as shield and mirror. As the unfolding action is miniaturized and reflected—indeed, doubled—on Cathy’s lenses, the message is that this drama turns back on Cathy, illustrating in a rather didactic manner the futility of her desire for Raymond, a black man. The emphasis on parenting here, with a black father and white mother "saving" and disciplining their respective children, further emphasizes the undercurrent of segregation as policing the boundaries of racial reproduction.[4]

### Homosexuality and escapism

[edit]

Frank Whitaker's burgeoning homosexuality is no doubt one of the most pivotal thematic story elements within Far From Heaven, as it sets in motion a series of events in the film that ultimately culminate in not only the estrangement of his wife, but also the inevitable failure of his marriage. Characterized as the reliable husband, the successful hardworking businessman, the charming spouse, and the devoted father, he is idealized in a way that assigns him so many demanding roles, it is almost as if he is driven to pursue his homosexual tendencies as a means to escape his taxing everyday life and release his burden and frustration.[6] We witness this early on in the film in his office at Magnatech when lunch meetings and dinner meetings pile up in his schedule, as portfolio season is well underway and his New York office continues to push up deadlines. Much like Cathy, Frank falls short of his exalted reputation, and as he is exploring Hartford one evening, avoiding returning home by taking in a movie, he soon finds himself walking the streets, delving further into the seedy underbelly of Hartford nightlife, where he hopes to find what he is looking for. It is when he notices what appear to be two gay men walking into a basement bar that he finally acts on his impulses and begins the slippery slope of self gratification that ultimately comes to dominate his lifestyle.[6] It is through these humble beginnings that we come to explore with Frank the subversive and hushed nature cast upon the gay community during this time period.[5]

Mitra Moin writes in her essay, "Far From Heaven and Carol: Channeling 1950s Melodrama":

> The 1950s is a time of constraining expectations; everyone is expected to lead perfect suburban lives, and those that deviate are socially condemned. Haynes sets this up in Far From Heaven, where Cathy appears to have a model life: two children, a successful husband, and a suburban home. She is a typical housewife, admired by others: "Women just like yourself, with families and homes to keep up." This is dismantled in the premise, when Cathy receives a call from the police station regarding her husband. Beauty and perfection, here, are forms of oppression. The props are also important to observe as symbols of the 1950s: The television manifests the suburban prosperity that characterizes the time period. Cathy must adhere to the narrow and confining gender roles of the 1950s, just as Frank must suppress his homosexual desires. These characters, disillusioned in their seemingly flawless worlds, ultimately find these symbols as oppressive.[6]

Likewise, Cathy, who finds an escape through her relationship with Raymond, begins to act on her impulses as well, taking us further into the bigoted, prejudiced nature of upper class Hartford society. When Cathy, in the aftermath of Eleanor observing the physical abuse Frank has inflicted upon her, is discovered crying in her yard by Raymond, their relationship becomes even closer, and he extends to her an invitation for a day in the country in an effort to take her mind off her worries, which she ultimately accepts. This invitation, however, sets in motion a series of events that culminates in a romantic evening between the two, which is inadvertently observed by Mona Lauder, a woman whose gossip is notorious for spreading like wildfire. It is through Mona's prejudiced tittle-tattle that Cathy soon finds herself with her reputation besmirched, as even her friends and loved ones are disgusted with her behavior. Frank's revelation of his affair to Cathy, which effectively ends their marriage, is mirrored when Cathy reveals her attraction for Raymond to Eleanor and is summarily rejected, exposing the subtle dichotomy between their respective vices. As Rebecca Sherr notes in her essay:

> The "mirroring" technique occurs several times and is a visual clue as to the parallels the film draws between interracial romance and homosexuality. [...] The two instances of "coming out" in Far from Heaven produce different narrative trajectories, and the mediating factor of racial difference accounts for these divergent outcomes. This difference in outcome is based in the notion of visibility—racial difference cannot usually be hidden. The film communicates that heterosexual, interracial desire could, in a sense, be seen as even more "queer" than homosexuality, at least in the context of queerness as visible deviance.[4]

Although Cathy finds herself isolated at the end of the film, a divorcée fallen from grace who now devotes her life to her children and her volunteer work for organizations such as the NAACP, she still possesses feelings for Raymond that, though now held back, dominate the subtext of the ending of the film, without either character having to utter a single word in their silent, tear-wrenching farewell.[6] Todd McGowan observes of both Cathy and Frank in "Relocating Our Enjoyment of the 1950s: The Politics of Fantasy in Far From Heaven": "The point here is not that they enjoy in spite of the widespread disapproval; it is instead that this disapproval enables and fuels their enjoyment. Their time together has the significance it does precisely because the social prohibition does not permit it."[5]

### Mise-en-scène and cinematography

[edit]

According to Haynes' director's commentary, recorded for the DVD-release of Far from Heaven, the film was made in the style of many 1950s films, notably those of Douglas Sirk. Haynes created color palettes for every scene in the film, and was careful and particular in his choices. He emphasized experience with color in such scenes as one in which Cathy, Eleanor, and their friends are all dressed in reds, oranges, yellows, browns, and greens, and also played with the color green by using it to light forbidden and mysterious scenes. This effect was employed both in the scene in which Frank visits a gay bar and when Cathy goes to the restaurant in a predominantly black neighborhood.[9]

Blue is often used in the film to represent Frank and Cathy's failing marriage, as in the scene in which Cathy receives a phone call from the Hartford police concerning Frank and his "loitering" and, later, when Frank and Cathy leave the psychiatrist's office after their first visit to try to curb Frank's homosexual tendencies. It is in the second of these moments that the only profanity in the entire film is used, by Frank towards Cathy, further demonstrating the coldness and bitterness he feels towards his wife, and perfectly in sync with the color palette that envelops them during this scene.[7]

Scott Higgins writes in "Orange and Blue, Desire and Loss: The Colour Score in Far From Heaven":

> Generally, we can isolate two strategies of colour design in Far from Heaven. On one hand, Haynes makes straightforward and adroit use of classical convention in a fairly subtle and un-ironic way. On the other hand, moments of strong stylisation reveal a self-consciousness of form that announces its artifice. The film's articulation of an autumnal orange motif exemplifies how Haynes reawakens dormant Hollywood conventions in a rather delicate expressive manner. The more overt manipulation of coloured lighting, however, offers a test case. Red and green lighting broadcasts its artifice and its reference to Sirk, activating an awareness of form that Haynes nonetheless manages to align with our sympathy for his characters. In his extensive use of blue light, though, Haynes exploits conventional motivations and the melodrama's generic tendency towards stylisation to exact a sincere and direct affective charge from colour temperature, in much the way filmmakers had done between the late 1930s and 1960s. His project of self-conscious reference may, in fact, open room for Haynes to renew the classical convention in an emotionally direct way. It is this play between citation and invocation of colour scoring that makes Far From Heaven so compelling.[7]

In addition to the color scheme, Haynes used shots and angles appropriate to Sirk's films and era, and the script employs over-the-top, melodramatic dialogue. In driving scenes, the filmmakers employed the rear projection process commonly used in older films, even reusing a plate from Sirk's Written on the Wind for one shot of Cathy driving to her daughter's ballet recital.[9] Cinematographer Edward Lachman helped created the appropriate "look" by using the same types of lighting techniques, lighting equipment, and lens filters that would have been used to film a melodrama in the 1950s, and Elmer Bernstein's score is reminiscent of those he had composed 40 and 50 years earlier. Also, supervising sound editor Kelley Baker used Foley to make the sounds of things in the film such as rustling clothes and footsteps more prominent in a way similar to films from the 1950s.[9]

In the director's commentary, Haynes noted that he was influenced by Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.[9] Both films portray feelings of alienation and awkwardness, which is conveyed by, for example, sometimes lingering on a character for a few seconds longer than is comfortable for the viewer before cutting to the next scene.[9]

## Reception

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 87% based on 221 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "An exquisitely designed and performed melodrama, Far From Heaven earns its viewers' tears with sincerity and intelligence."[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[11]

Jonathan Rosenbaum called the film a masterpiece and considered it a companion of Haynes' earlier film Safe (1995) in its use of "the same talented actress to explore suburban alienation in comparably gargantuan consumerist surroundings".[12] Regarding the casting of Raymond, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that "Haysbert brings a Poitier-esque dignity and poise."[13]

The film was nominated in four categories at the 75th Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Julianne Moore), Best Original Screenplay (Todd Haynes), Best Cinematography (Edward Lachman), and Best Original Score (Elmer Bernstein).[14] At the Venice Film Festival, it was nominated for the Golden Lion, while Moore won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress[15] and Lachman won a prize for Outstanding Individual Contribution.[16]

They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?, a website that gathers various critics' polls, found Far from Heaven to be the 56th most acclaimed film of the 21st century.[17] In August 2016, BBC Magazine conducted a poll on the 21st century's 100 greatest films so far, with Far from Heaven ranking at number 86.[18] In 2019, The Guardian ranked the film 13th in its list of the best films of the 21st century.[19]

### In other media

[edit]

Main article: Far from Heaven (musical)

Theatrical songwriting team Scott Frankel and Michael Korie worked with Richard Greenberg on an Off Broadway-bound musical adaptation. The musical opened at Playwrights Horizons in Spring of 2013. Kelli O'Hara starred in the central role.[20]

## Awards and honors

[edit]

The film did extraordinarily well in the Village Voice's Film Critics' Poll of 2002, where Far from Heaven won for Best Picture, Moore for Best Lead Performance and Haynes for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Lachman's work in Far from Heaven also won Best Cinematography by a wide margin, while Quaid, Clarkson, and Haysbert were all recognized for their supporting performances, placing second, fourth, and ninth, respectively.[21]

Year  | Ceremony  | Category  | Recipients  | Result

|
|
|
|

2002 | Academy Awards[14] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore | Nominated
Best Original Screenplay  | Todd Haynes | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman | Nominated
Best Original Score  | Elmer Bernstein | Nominated
2002 | Golden Globe Awards[22] | Best Actress - Drama  | Julianne Moore  | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Quaid | Nominated
Best Screenplay  | Todd Haynes  | Nominated
Best Original Score  | Elmer Bernstein  | Nominated
2002 | Screen Actors Guild Awards [23] | Best Female Actor in a Leading Role  | Julianne Moore  | Nominated
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role  | Dennis Quaid  | Nominated
2002 | Independent Spirit Awards[24] | Best Feature  | Far From Heaven | Won
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Female Lead  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Supporting Male  | Dennis Quaid  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman | Won
2002 | Critics' Choice Movie Awards[25] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
2002 | Satellite Awards[26] | Best Film - Drama  | Far From Heaven | Won
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Actress - Drama  | Julianne Moore  | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor - Drama  | Dennis Haysbert | Won
Dennis Quaid  | Nominated
Best Screenplay - Original  | Todd Haynes  | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Nominated
2002 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards[27] | Best Picture  | Far From Heaven | Nominated
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Nominated
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Best Music Score  | Elmer Bernstein  | Won
Best Production Design  | Mark Friedberg  | Nominated
2002 | National Society of Film Critics Awards[28] | Best Supporting Actress  | Patricia Clarkson | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
2002 | New York Film Critics Circle Awards[29] | Best Film  | Far From Heaven | Won
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Nominated
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Quaid  | Won
Best Supporting Actress  | Patricia Clarkson  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
2002  | Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2002[30] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2002[31] | Best Film  | Far From Heaven | Won
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Quaid  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Best Original Score  | Elmer Bernstein  | Won
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2002 | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 2002[32] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards 2002[33] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
National Board of Review Awards 2002[34] | Best Actress  | Won
Online Film Critics Society Awards 2002[35] | Best Picture  | Far From Heaven | Nominated
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Nominated
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Quaid  | Won
Best Original Screenplay  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Best Original Score  | Elmer Bernstein  | Won
Best Art Direction  | Peter Rogness
Ellen Christiansen  | Won
Best Costume Design  | Sandy Powell | Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards 2002  | Best Film  | Far From Heaven | Nominated
Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Quaid  | Nominated
Best Screenplay - Original  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Edward Lachman  | Nominated
Best Original Score  | Elmer Bernstein  | Won
Best Production Design  | Peter Rogness
Ellen Christiansen  | Nominated
Best Costume Design  | Sandy Powell  | Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2002 | Best Film  | Far From Heaven | Won
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards 2002[36] | Best Director  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards 2002[37] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Screenplay - Original  | Todd Haynes  | Won
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2002[38] | Best Director  | Nominated
Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Quaid  | Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2002[39] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
59th Venice International Film Festival[15][16] | Golden Lion | Todd Haynes  | Nominated
Volpi Cup for Best Actress | Julianne Moore  | Won
Outstanding Individual Contribution (cinematography)  | Edward Lachman  | Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2002[40] | Best Actress  | Julianne Moore  | Won
Best Supporting Actor  | Dennis Haysbert  | Won
Writers Guild of America Awards 2002 | Best Original Screenplay  | Todd Haynes  | Nominated

The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in these lists:

* 2005: AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores – Nominated[41]

## Soundtrack

[edit]

Far from Heaven was the last film scored by Elmer Bernstein. The soundtrack album's runtime is 46 minutes and 9 seconds.[42]

1. "Autumn in Connecticut" – 3:08
2. "Mother Love" – 0:42
3. "Evening Rest" – 1:52
4. "Walking Through Town" – 1:49
5. "Proof" – 1:01
6. "The F Word" – 1:11
7. "Party" – 0:55
8. "Hit" – 2:42
9. "Crying" – 1:11
10. "Turning Point" – 4:46
11. "Cathy and Raymond Dance" – 2:02
12. "Disapproval" – 1:00
13. "Walk Away" – 2:34
14. "Orlando" – 0:56
15. "Back to Basics" – 1:47
16. "Stones" – 1:44
17. "Revelation and Decision" – 4:21
18. "Remembrance" – 1:56
19. "More Pain" – 4:04
20. "Transition" – 0:55
21. "Beginnings" – 2:17

## See also

[edit]

* New Queer Cinema
* Douglas Sirk

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Far From Heaven (12)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
2. ^ a b Far from Heaven at Box Office Mojo
3. ^ Vachon, Christine; Bunn, Austin (2006). A Killer Life: How an Independent Film Producer Survives Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond. Simon and Schuster. p. 156\. ISBN 978-0743256308.
4. ^ a b c d e f Scherr, Rebecca (Spring 2008). "(Not) queering "white vision" in Far from Heaven and Transamerica". Jump Cut (50).
5. ^ a b c d McGowan, Todd (2007). "Relocating Our Enjoyment of the 1950s: The Politics of Fantasy in Far From Heaven". In James, Morrison (ed.). The Cinema of Todd Haynes: All That Heaven Allows. Directors' Cuts. London: Wallflower Press. pp. 114–121. ISBN 978-1-904-76477-9.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Moin, Mitra (August 2016). "Far From Heaven and Carol: Channeling 1950s Melodrama". Off Screen. 20 (7).
7. ^ a b c d Higgins, Scott (2007). "Orange and Blue, Desire and Loss: The Colour Score in Far from Heaven". In Morrison, James (ed.). The Cinema of Todd Haynes: All that Heaven Allows. Directors' Cuts. London: Wallflower Press. pp. 101–113. ISBN 978-1-904-76477-9.
8. ^ O'Hehir, Andrew (November 9, 2002). ""Far From Heaven"". Salon. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
9. ^ a b c d e Haynes, Todd (2003). Far from Heaven (DVD audio commentary). Universal.
10. ^ "Far From Heaven (2002)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
11. ^ "Far From Heaven Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
12. ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (November 22, 2002). "Magnificent Repression [on Far from Heaven]". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
13. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (March 6, 2003). "Far from Heaven – review". The Guardian. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
14. ^ a b "2003 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
15. ^ a b Colbert, Mary (September 9, 2002). "Movies About the Downtrodden Prevail". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
16. ^ a b Silberg, Jon (December 2002). "American Cinematographer: Far From Heaven". American Cinematographer. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
17. ^ "TSPDT - 21st Century (Full List)". They Shoot Pictures, Don't They. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
18. ^ "BBC - Culture - The 21st Century's 100 greatest films". BBC Magazine. August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
19. ^ "The 100 best films of the 21st century". The Guardian. September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
20. ^ "Playwrights Horizons Lines Up Far From Heaven, New Works By Annie Baker and Amy Herzog for 2012-2013". Playbill. February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012.
21. ^ Hoberman, J. (December 31, 2002). "Days of Heaven". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on September 15, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
22. ^ "Far From Heaven". Golden Globes. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
23. ^ "The 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
24. ^ Harris, Dana (March 23, 2003). "'Heaven' tops Indie Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
25. ^ "8th Critics' Choice Movie Awards Winners and Nominees". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
26. ^ Martin, Denise (January 14, 2003). "'Far' wins Golden Satellite kudos". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
27. ^ "L.A. Film Critics Pick 'Schmidt' as Year's Best Film". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2002. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
28. ^ Taylor, Charles (January 8, 2003). "National critics pick "The Pianist"". Salon. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
29. ^ Hiatt, Brian (December 17, 2002). "Far From Heaven tops New York critics awards". EW.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
30. ^ "Boston crix key up 'Pianist'". Variety. December 16, 2002. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
31. ^ "'Heaven' Sent". EW.com. January 10, 2003. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
32. ^ "2002 FFCC Award Winners". Florida Film Critics Circle. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
33. ^ "KCFCC Award Winners – 2000-09". Kansas City Film Critics Circle. December 14, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
34. ^ "2002 Archives". National Board of Review. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
35. ^ "2002 Awards (6th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. January 3, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
36. ^ "2002 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards". SPLICEDwire. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
37. ^ "2002 Winners". sefca.net. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
38. ^ "TFCA Awards 2002". Toronto Film Critics. December 21, 2002. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
39. ^ Spaner, David (January 30, 2003). "More Moore, please". The Province. Vancouver. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
40. ^ "Director Clooney wins critics' prize". BBC News. January 3, 2003. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
41. ^ "AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores Nominees" (PDF). American Film Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 6, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
42. ^ "Far From Heaven [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved September 17, 2024.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Kaufman, Anthony (December 11, 2009). "Decade: Todd Haynes on "Far From Heaven"". IndieWire.

## External links

[edit]

* Far From Heaven \- Focus Features
* Far from Heaven at IMDb
* Far from Heaven at Box Office Mojo
* Far from Heaven at Rotten Tomatoes
* Far from Heaven at Metacritic

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Todd Haynes

Films|

* Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987)
* Poison (1991)
* Safe (1995)
* Velvet Goldmine (1998)
* Far from Heaven (2002)
* I'm Not There (2007)
* Carol (2015)
* Wonderstruck (2017)
* Dark Waters (2019)
* The Velvet Underground (2021)
* May December (2023)

Television|

* Mildred Pierce (2011)

Awards for Far from Heaven

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film

* Mississippi Burning (1988)
* Do the Right Thing (1989)
* Goodfellas (1990)
* The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
* Malcolm X (1992)
* Schindler's List (1993)
* Hoop Dreams (1994)
* Apollo 13 (1995)
* Fargo (1996)
* L.A. Confidential (1997)
* Saving Private Ryan (1998)
* American Beauty (1999)
* Almost Famous (2000)
* Mulholland Drive (2001)
* Far from Heaven (2002)
* The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
* Sideways (2004)
* Crash (2005)
* The Departed (2006)
* No Country for Old Men (2007)
* WALL-E (2008)
* The Hurt Locker (2009)
* The Social Network (2010)
* The Tree of Life (2011)
* Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
* 12 Years a Slave (2013)
* Boyhood (2014)
* Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
* Moonlight (2016)
* Lady Bird (2017)
* Roma (2018)
* Parasite (2019)
* Nomadland (2020)
* The Power of the Dog (2021)
* The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
* Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

* v
* t
* e

Independent Spirit Award for Best Film

* After Hours (1985)
* Platoon (1986)
* River's Edge (1987)
* Stand and Deliver (1988)
* Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
* The Grifters (1990)
* Rambling Rose (1991)
* The Player (1992)
* Short Cuts (1993)
* Pulp Fiction (1994)
* Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
* Fargo (1996)
* The Apostle (1997)
* Gods and Monsters (1998)
* Election (1999)
* Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
* Memento (2001)
* Far from Heaven (2002)
* Lost in Translation (2003)
* Sideways (2004)
* Brokeback Mountain (2005)
* Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
* Juno (2007)
* The Wrestler (2008)
* Precious (2009)
* Black Swan (2010)
* The Artist (2011)
* Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
* 12 Years a Slave (2013)
* Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
* Spotlight (2015)
* Moonlight (2016)
* Get Out (2017)
* If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
* The Farewell (2019)
* Nomadland (2020)
* The Lost Daughter (2021)
* Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
* Past Lives (2023)

* v
* t
* e

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film

1935–1950|

* The Informer (1935)
* Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
* The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
* The Citadel (1938)
* Wuthering Heights (1939)
* The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
* Citizen Kane (1941)
* In Which We Serve (1942)
* Watch on the Rhine (1943)
* Going My Way (1944)
* The Lost Weekend (1945)
* The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
* Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
* The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
* All the King's Men (1949)
* All About Eve (1950)

1951–1975|

* A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
* High Noon (1952)
* From Here to Eternity (1953)
* On the Waterfront (1954)
* Marty (1955)
* Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
* The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
* The Defiant Ones (1958)
* Ben-Hur (1959)
* The Apartment / Sons and Lovers (1960)
* West Side Story (1961)
* No Award (1962)
* Tom Jones (1963)
* My Fair Lady (1964)
* Darling (1965)
* A Man for All Seasons (1966)
* In the Heat of the Night (1967)
* The Lion in Winter (1968)
* Z (1969)
* Five Easy Pieces (1970)
* A Clockwork Orange (1971)
* Cries and Whispers (1972)
* Day for Night (1973)
* Amarcord (1974)
* Nashville (1975)

1976–2000|

* All the President's Men (1976)
* Annie Hall (1977)
* The Deer Hunter (1978)
* Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
* Ordinary People (1980)
* Reds (1981)
* Gandhi (1982)
* Terms of Endearment (1983)
* A Passage to India (1984)
* Prizzi's Honor (1985)
* Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
* Broadcast News (1987)
* The Accidental Tourist (1988)
* My Left Foot (1989)
* Goodfellas (1990)
* The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
* The Player (1992)
* Schindler's List (1993)
* Quiz Show (1994)
* Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
* Fargo (1996)
* L.A. Confidential (1997)
* Saving Private Ryan (1998)
* Topsy-Turvy (1999)
* Traffic (2000)

2001–present|

* Mulholland Drive (2001)
* Far from Heaven (2002)
* The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
* Sideways (2004)
* Brokeback Mountain (2005)
* United 93 (2006)
* No Country for Old Men (2007)
* Milk (2008)
* The Hurt Locker (2009)
* The Social Network (2010)
* The Artist (2011)
* Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
* American Hustle (2013)
* Boyhood (2014)
* Carol (2015)
* La La Land (2016)
* Lady Bird (2017)
* Roma (2018)
* The Irishman (2019)
* First Cow (2020)
* Drive My Car (2021)
* Tár (2022)
* Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

* v
* t
* e

San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Film

* Fargo (1996)
* L.A. Confidential (1997)
* Gods and Monsters (1998)
* American Beauty (1999)
* Almost Famous (2000)
* Ghost World (2001)
* Far from Heaven (2002)
* Dirty Pretty Things (2003)
* Vera Drake (2004)
* King Kong (2005)
* Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
* No Country for Old Men (2007)
* Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
* Inglourious Basterds (2009)
* Winter's Bone (2010)
* The Artist (2011)
* Argo (2012)
* Her (2013)
* Nightcrawler (2014)
* Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
* Hell or High Water (2016)
* Get Out (2017)
* Leave No Trace (2018)
* The Irishman (2019)
* Promising Young Woman (2020)
* The Power of the Dog (2021)
* The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
* Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)

* v
* t
* e

Satellite Award for Best Film

Drama
(1996–2009, 2018–present)|

* Fargo (1996)
* Titanic (1997)
* The Thin Red Line (1998)
* The Insider (1999)
* Traffic (2000)
* In the Bedroom (2001)
* Far from Heaven (2002)
* In America (2003)
* Hotel Rwanda (2004)
* Brokeback Mountain (2005)
* The Departed (2006)
* No Country for Old Men (2007)
* Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
* The Hurt Locker (2009)
* If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
* Ford v Ferrari (2019)
* Nomadland (2020)
* Belfast (2021)
* Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
* Oppenheimer (2023)

Musical or Comedy
(1996–2009, 2018–present)|

* Evita (1996)
* As Good as It Gets (1997)
* Shakespeare in Love (1998)
* Being John Malkovich (1999)
* Nurse Betty (2000)
* Moulin Rouge! (2001)
* My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
* Lost in Translation (2003)
* Sideways (2004)
* Walk the Line (2005)
* Dreamgirls (2006)
* Juno (2007)
* Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
* Nine (2009)
* Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
* A Star Is Born (2018)
* Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
* The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)
* tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)
* Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
* The Holdovers (2023)

Motion Picture
(2010–2017)|

* The Social Network (2010)
* The Descendants (2011)
* Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
* 12 Years a Slave (2013)
* Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
* Spotlight (2015)
* La La Land / Manchester by the Sea (2016)
* God's Own Country / Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Independent
(2018)|

* BlacKkKlansman (2018)

Authority control databases: National |

* Germany
* Czech Republic

|

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