“The Cider House Rules” (1999) appears at first glance to be a well-made historical drama centered around life at an apple orchard and orphanage in Maine during World War II. Tobey Maguire portrays Homer Wells, a young man raised within the isolated orphanage and favored by caretaker Dr. Larch, played by Michael Caine, who shares his extensive medical knowledge and abilities with him. When Homer turns 21, he departs the orphanage with a couple seeking an illegal abortion and finds work at an apple orchard. The question of whether he will ever return remains open. The film’s true strength lies in its underlying themes, which explore intricate questions about morality and how external or internal guidelines shape our actions. The movie presents a contrast between rules imposed from the outside and those derived from one's own moral compass. The former can be disregarded without significant repercussions, similar to the arbitrary regulations of the cider house itself or the act of crossing into an area at Niagara Falls for a better photograph; however, violations of innate moral principles carry serious consequences. For instance, orchard workers ridicule the rules created by those unfamiliar with their daily lives, but one individual’s transgression against a fundamental spiritual law results in lost relationships and something even worse, illustrating the idea that "the wages of sin is death." Another example involves societal expectations requiring specific qualifications to perform the work Dr. Larch does, which seems reasonable enough; however, these formal credentials are ultimately meaningless for some people, like Homer, who possesses genuine expertise regardless of official recognition. Consequently, Larch fabricates appropriate documentation to satisfy authorities and patients. Wally & Candy (played by Paul Rudd & Charlize Theron) impulsively obtain an illegal abortion early in the film, but later seem unlikely to engage in particularly passionate sexual activity – a distinction from simply not having any physical intimacy at all. They almost certainly regret their decision to disregard the law and have an abortion, which was unlawful at the time. It’s clear that the movie doesn't lean heavily toward either extreme political viewpoint; instead, it offers a balanced perspective on complex moral issues. Both sides of the abortion debate are represented. While some might interpret the film as leaning towards a pro-choice stance, it also effectively portrays the conservative view and demonstrates how the issue is far from simple. For example, if a woman becomes pregnant due to an act of sexual assault, the life within her wasn't brought into being by choice, and she could be considered justified in seeking an abortion, with responsibility for the child’s death falling on the man who committed the assault. Homer also articulates a conservative viewpoint, suggesting that individuals should exercise self-control *before* conception and the difficult topic of abortion arises. Dr. Larch later expresses a wish that the world matched Homer's idealistic view, but acknowledges we live on a deeply troubled planet where people consistently make poor choices with far-reaching negative consequences. The film has a running time of 2 hours and 6 minutes and was filmed in Northampton, Massachusetts (orphanage), Dummerston, Vermont (orchard), Bernard, Corea and Sand Beach, Maine, as well as other locations throughout New England. GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB