Content Warnings
- 🟡 40/100 A couple is shown in bed together, implied sexual activity but nothing explicit is shown.
- 🟡 30/100 A character is seen drinking alcohol in a social setting.
- 🔴 70/100 A character has a flashback to a traumatic boating accident that resulted in a death.
- 🔴 80/100 A character has an emotional breakdown and self-harms by cutting their wrist.
- 🟢 20/100 Use of the word 'damn'.
- 🟢 20/100 Use of the word 'hell'.
- 🟡 50/100 Use of the word 'shit'.
Details for Ordinary People (1980)
What is the plot of 'Ordinary People' (1980)?
'Ordinary People' follows the Jarrett family as they struggle to cope with the death of their eldest son in a boating accident. The film focuses on the emotional turmoil of the younger son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), who battles guilt and depression, while his parents, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) and Calvin (Donald Sutherland), deal with their grief in very different ways.
Who directed 'Ordinary People' (1980)?
The movie was directed by Robert Redford, marking his directorial debut. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1981.
What awards did 'Ordinary People' win?
'Ordinary People' won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Robert Redford, Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received nominations for Best Actress (Mary Tyler Moore) and Best Supporting Actor (Judd Hirsch).
How does 'Ordinary People' explore themes of grief and family dynamics?
The film delves deeply into the psychological impact of loss and the breakdown of family communication. It contrasts Conrad's struggle with survivor's guilt and his attempts to heal through therapy with his mother Beth's emotional detachment and his father Calvin's desperate attempts to hold the family together.
Who plays the therapist in 'Ordinary People'?
Judd Hirsch portrays Dr. Tyrone Berger, the compassionate psychiatrist who helps Conrad work through his trauma and emotional struggles.
