A Thousand Acres

Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Producesr: Marc Abraham, Lynn Arost, Steve Golin, Kate Guinzburg, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Screenwriter: Laura Jones
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Jessica Lange, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Colin Firth, Keith Carradine, Kevin Anderson, Pat Hingle, Jason Robards
MPAA Rating: R
Year of Release: 1997
Released on Video: 03/01/98

In this update of Shakespeare’s King Lear, Iowa patriarch Larry is one of the most powerful farmers in the region. Announcing his retirement, he tells his three daughters he will divide his 1,000 acres between them. Favored youngest daughter Caroline wonders aloud whether that is a good idea and is immediately rewarded by having her share axed. As the two eldest daughters and their husbands begin assuming control of their respective halves of the farm, Larry begins to become angry and abusive, prompting the two women to grapple with long-hidden family secrets.

Viewing Suggestion:

Notice how the two sisters, Rose and Ginny, are starting to confront, work through, and resolve their past in a dysfunctional family with issues of alcoholism, emotional abuse and molestation. Recovery is possible.

Ask Yourself:

- Do you feel too challenged by circumstances in your life or by the effects of trauma that you experienced in childhood to believe that you would ever be content or happy again?
- Can you remember a time in your life, even if it was very short, when you were contented or happy despite your challenges?
- Does Rose’s and Ginny’s capacity to start working on healing the wounds that were created in their childhood remind you of possibly neglected resources inside you that might help you to achieve the same?