Product Description

Life for a single mother with six kids, no job and no place to live might be enough to break almostanyone's spirit. But for a proud and resiliant woman like Frances Lacey, it's both a challenge she embraces and a battle she refuses to lose. Starring OscarÂ(r) winner* Kathy Bates (Fried Green Tomatoes) and featuring Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) and "a supporting cast of fine young actors" ("Entertainment Today"), this "radiant [and] inspirational" (The Hollywood Reporter) film is a "touching, involving experience" (Los Angeles Times) that proves home really is where the heart is! Independent, strong-willed Frances Lacey (Bates) is determined to turn hard times into prosperity. Fed up with her supervisor's harassment, her oldest son's (Furlong)increasing delinquency and all of Los Angeles, she packs her kids into a rundown Plymouth and headseast. To some, Frances may look like a woman bound for nowhere but this is one tough lady who's definitely got a destinationthe American dream! *1990: Actress, Misery

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11287 in DVD
• Brand: BATES,KATHY
• Released on: 2001-05-22
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 104 minutes

Customer Reviews

One of the BEST family movies ever made!
The other reviewers have given great descriptions of this wonderfully touching movie, so I'll just say that Kathy Bates shines in this gem. Being a huge Bates fan, I consider this one of her best performances. Also not to be missed, is Soon-Teck Oh, one of Hollywoods most underutilized actors. Best known for his re-accuring roles on "M*A*S*H" [the series version], he brings true warmth and caring to the role of "Mr. Moon".

For anyone looking for a "feel good" movie, this one shouldn't be missed!

Entertaining, touching, believable!
This is the story of a single mom and six children who rent and barely get by from paycheck to paycheck in Los Angeles. When her job is lost, she packs up the family and sets out in a 1948 Plymouth. She promises her offspring that everything will eventually be "buttoned up and beautiful". While driving through Idaho, with the old car about to quit before they do, Mrs. Lacey spots an old would-be house which was begun and then abandoned. She convinces the owner of a nearby nursery to allow her and the children to work for the property. To some of the children it's an adventure, but life for Shayne, the oldest boy, is miserable. He is humiliated by his school coach and is constantly in arguments with his mother. His mother's iron-clad rule is enforced by her use of his deceased father's old belt.

Another child whose character is richly developed in the film is middle son Murray. Indoor plumbing becomes his goal in life!

Most viewers will probably be very frustrated at the mother's refusal to "take charity" even when her children suffer-- the Christmas scene is especially heartbreaking. I would not spoil the final fourth of the film for you-- but will simply say that it is believable. In fact, the entire story is supposed to be a true one, as stated by Shayne, who narrates these realistic events set in 1962.

A Strong Mom Trying to Do Right by her Kids
"The less you have, the more it hurts when you lose it."

In this independent film Frances Lacey is a widow trying to survive in the man's world of the 1960s. With three boys and three girls, ranging in age from four to fifteen, her task is even harder. Shayne, the eldest, has become the man of the house, albeit begrudgingly. When he talks out of turn he dutifully gets his father's belt and takes his punishment while Lynn, Faye, Murray, Annie and Craig look on.

Frances is a strong persuasive woman who stands up for herself and her children. After being fired from a Los Angeles potato chip factory for standing up to sexual harassment Frances decides, without discussion, to find something better. She sells whatever she can and packs everything else, along with the kids, into their rusty old Plymouth and starts driving.

They end up in rural Idaho sitting in the car outside a dilapidated half built frame house. It's love at first sight for Frances. In exchange for what Frances calls slave labour she makes an exchange with the owner and neighbour, Mr. Moon, for the property and house. He agrees hesitantly and totally unaware of the changes that are going to occur in his life.

For a regular income she talks the local bowling alley owner into hiring her even though she has no experience. She's willing to work and willing to learn. She passes her good work ethics onto her children who also work to earn money to help finish the house. Their only real home since their father died.

A Home of Our Own is an adult film with adult content and narrated by Shayne who looks back to when he was 15 years old. He calls his mother "one of a kind" and she certainly is. Kathy Bates, not surprisingly gives an excellent performance of a distraught woman looking to provide a secure home for her offspring. She doesn't claim to be a perfect woman and she quickly learns from her mistakes but it isn't until a tragedy occurs that she learns she can't control everything, the value of community and that it's ok to ask for help. Edward Furlong plays Shayne and is believable as the loyal son wanting to be the man of the house but torn with the fact he's still a child.

The narrator is director Tony Bill (thank you Tamilisa Wood) who really gives a Wonder Years feel to the film. I highly recommend watching this character driven film. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.