Beautiful DVD: Cider House Rules

Mr. Rose is a shadowy character, and just as he is dying, he delivers a line that summarizes the Cider House Rules film: “Sometimes you gotta break some rules to put things right.”

I recently wrote an article about “The Beauty and Power of DVDs” – DVDs as a video medium.

Quite by chance, the next DVD I watched was one with beautiful and intriguing layers of message.  Once again, I’m bowled over by the beauty and power of DVDs.

Cider House Rules

Dr. Larch and Mr. Rose are worlds apart in their background – and in their vocabulary.  But their attitudes toward rules are nearly identical.

Dr. Larch said, “Here at St. Clouds, I try to consider, with each rule I make or break, that my first priority is an orphan’s future.”  Dr. Larch also said that, long ago, he had decided that sometimes it was the women who needed to be delivered.  And that “delivery” might include abortion, which was then against the law.

Homer Wells had difficulty with that.  Homer said that he had no argument with Dr. Larch performing them.  “All I said was I don’t want to perform abortions.”

On the other side of the story, Mr. Rose said, “You know, they ain’t our rules, Homer.  We din’ write ‘em.  I don’t see no need to read ‘em.”

White men were always making rules for Mr. Rose and his fellows, wherever they traveled.  And they didn’t trust the white man’s rules.  Mr. Rose said, “Well, someone who don’t live here made those rules.  These rules ain’t for us.  We the ones supposed to make our own rules.  And we do.  Every single day.  Ain’t that right, Homer?”

Unfortunately, Mr. Rose saw the incest prohibition as another one of white man’s rules.  He had no way to understand or appreciate the genetic risk.  It was just one more rule that he didn’t trust – and that he didn’t believe.

Of course, his love for Rose Rose was strong and protective.  Then his love crossed that fatal line, from supportive to destructive.  A line that was impossible for him to see – and impossible to avoid.

I see Mr. Rose as a victim of his circumstances, rather than as a villain.

And Homer’s emotional arc encompasses learning from Mr. Rose, and from Rose Rose, that Dr. Larch was right.  Homer starts out saying, “How about expecting people to be responsible enough to control themselves to begin with.”  Then, as Homer’s relationship with Candy deepens, he discovers that personal responsibility is a little more challenging than he had imagined.

At one point, Homer burns the “Cider House” rules in the stove.  I see this as a cinematic and figurative device showing that Homer, at that point, has accepted the necessity of breaking rules – sometimes.  As the migrant workers do.  And as Dr. Larch does.

In their correspondence, between the orphanage and the orchard, Dr. Larch writes, “You are my work of art, Homer.  Everything else has been just a job.  I don’t know if you’ve got a work of art in you.  But I know what your job is.  You’re a doctor.”  Homer replies, “I can’t replace you.  I’m sorry.”  Dr. Larch responds, “Sorry.  I’m not sorry.  Not for anything I’ve done.  I’m not even sorry that I love you.”

Dr. Larch writes, “I know what your job is.  You’re a Doctor.”  Then Mr. Rose yells, “You even know what your business is Homer?  Do ya?  Come on man, what is your business?”  Homer cries back to Mr. Rose, “I’m in the doctor business.  I can help.  That’s all I’m saying.  I can help.”

After Homer returns to St. Clouds, to follow in his father’s footsteps, nurse Angela holds up the x-ray film and asks Homer if he knows what it is.  Homer says it’s his heart.  Angela says, “No.  It’s Fuzzy’s heart.”  Homer, startled, once again realizes that his father loved him and has been helping him.

The evening of Homer’s return, just before turning out the dormitory lights, Homer reads from the last paragraph of chapter 14 of David Copperfield: “Thus I began my new life – in a new name – and with everything new about me.  I felt like one in a dream.  The remembrance of my old life was fraught with so much want of hope.  Whether it lasted for a year, or more, or less, I do not know.  I only know that it was, and ceased to be … and there I leave it.”

Charles Dickens told Homer Wells’ story, almost a century earlier.

The layers of meaning in this film by Lasse Hallström are lyrical and intriguing – and in this story – written by John Irving.  The screen play was adapted by John Irving (he won an Oscar for the adaptation).

And so …

In one of the DVD features, Lasse Hallström explains, “The Cider House Rules, I think, represent those kind of rules that are imposed on us – rules that are made by others who know very little about the circumstance of our world.  And, therefore, it’s important to oppose those rules and question them.”

I close with the comforting St. Clouds vesper, that the doctor always offered, as he turned out the light:

“Good night, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England.”

This is a beautiful DVD.  And a beautiful story and film.