Customer Reviews

Resurrection [VHS]

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This woman has a near-death experience and finds she has power to heal. The use of the power without calling it the Holy Spirit gets her is to all manner of trouble. The movie really shows the difference between religion and spirtiuality. After you finish watching the movie, get back on line and buy a copy of An Encounter With A Prophet and you will get more insight into the difference between religion and spirtuality.

If you haven't seen this beautifully-crafted movie, run to get a copy. It is intimate, well-paced, utterly charming and full of small miracles of acting. Nominated for two Academy Awards (Ellyn Burstyn for Best Actress, Eva LaGallienne for Best Supporting-Actress, in her final film, so don't miss her!), it is an emotional trip into the big questions of life and death and what comes after that? Look for Madeline Sherwood and Richard Farnsworth as luminous actors in brief parts (there are no small parts. . .)who join Sam Shepard and the totally believable cast of real people. This movie can be watched over and over,and you grow with it,like a favorite book can be revisited and re-understood as you see things with different eyes in your own growing up. At last, with its reissue, we can see and share it again and again. Highly recommended!

This was on SKY movies only the other day, I had seen it when it first came out in the early 1980s and you'd expect it to be somewhat dated, but even after over 20 years since it was made, this movie still manages to pack a wallop.

The very under-rated Ellen Burstyn plays Edna McCauley a young woman tragically widowed in a car accident that leaves her in a wheelchair.

In her grief she returns home to the family farm, to her wonderfully warm and loving Grandmother and her cold and distant father who has never been able to tell his only daughter he loves her.

Edna isn't aware of it in the beginning but having a near death experience in the accident that left her a widow she now has healing powers which she uses, first on a child who has horrific nose bleeds, and then on herself so that she can walk again.

But Edna is aware her gift is special, her Grandmother, worldly and quietly religious tells her Granddaughter to her gift for the good of others which Edna does, but there are people who are jealous of what she can do, especially a self proclaimed Preacher by the name of Earl.

His son Cal, a very young Sam Shepherd becomes Edna's lover but he becomes afraid of her gift, his fear is born out of his harsh zealot upbringing at the hands of a man who believes that the bible is the be all and end all and that Edna is not doing God's work but the work of the Devil.

Resurrection could have fallen flat on its face as the subject matter it is dealing with is complex and controversial but the Director, the late Daniel Petrie manages to make it both satisfying and uplifting without ever heading for the sentimental avenue which films like this can often end up.

The end scene is wonderful, with Edna quietly living out her life running a gas station on a lonely route, surrounded by animals, enjoying her solitude but occasionally gifting to other her healing skills, but in such a way they never know.

An absolute gem of a film.

Ellen Burstyn is surely the most under-appreciated American actress of the last quarter of the past century. Her work in her Oscar nominated films-"The Exorcist," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Resurrection"-is certainly superior to that of Sally Field who ended up with twice as many Academy Awards. Resurrection is the least well known of this particular trio, but it is arguably her most compelling performance.

Burstyn plays Edna McCauley, who experiences clinical death after the car accident that kills her lover and who returns to life with amazing healing powers. Edna begins using these new powers, but insists on attributing them to the power of human love rather than to divine intervention. Edna saves the life of Cal Carpenter (Sam Shepard), a young farmer, and then falls in love with him. However, he wants her to confess that her powers come from God, and when Edna is unable to do this it sets up a tragic confrontation. The film ends with a touching scene that is as moving and as memorable as I have ever seen, giving "Resurrection" a final eloquence that underscores the entire experience.

The supporting cast is outstanding, especially Roberts Blossom as Edna's stubborn father, Eva Le Gallienne as Grandma Pearl, and Robert Farnsworth as Esco in a wonderful bit part that takes on added importance as the story continues. Shepard is solid, but it is Burstyn's performance that shines throughout "Resurrection." This 1980 film was directed by Daniel Petrie from a script by Lewis John Carino.

"Resurrection" was remade as a 1999 television movie starring Dana Delany, which is what inspired me to go back and look at the original version again. This time the lead character is named Clare Miller, and there are some interesting reconstructions of the elements of the original film. The ending of this film, where the main character makes a decidedly different decision regarding how she will spend the rest of her life, is an interesting but totally valid change. I think it just speaks to the inherent appeal of the basic storyline.

Note: Please be careful. There are about 2 dozen different movies entitled "Resurrection" dating back to the silent era. If you pick up a crime/thriller with Christopher Lambert, it will not be my fault.

I love this flick -- and I have it in VHS of course, but beg the "powers that be" to bring it out on DVD in widescreen, and with some actor's comments...great film that holds up over time.
DVD!DVD!DVD!

I taped this movie from TV, a long time ago. I thought it would be reshown, but it has not been, to my knowledge. Despite my e-mailing the networks, they seemed uninterested in showing it again, therefore my copy is in very poor condition; needing to be replaced, badly. I have been looking for it, on video for ages, either with no success, or an unusually high price tag attached, for some reason. I absolutely love this movie, as it has something for everyone. It is a very well written and acted drama, with both Ellen Burstyn and Sam Shepard "playing off" each other perfectly. The supporting cast is also as good as it gets. Not only does Ellen's character want to leave this "gift" behind, but Sam Shepard does not appreciate it, as he views it more a curse, than blessing; feeling it is something that will distroy, their already, struggling relationship. Even when he sees what the "gift" affords to people in need, it is beyond his grasp to accept. This is a hard-edged movie, but has such a soft undertone and so much feeling and love, plus the struggle by Ellen Burstyn, as she tries to reason why this gift has been given to her, as she feels totally unworthy, therefore she rages against it, trying to throw it away..then.. the final acceptance of something that is truly a gift from God and therefore, should not be questioned. Anyone who wants to be inspired by a truly wonderful movie that will leave you with that "feel good" feeling... this is the movie to do just that! I hope others will enjoy it, as much as I have.

For those who are sick of waiting for this great film to become available on DVD, I have found a few bootleg copies on ebay recently. They are transfered from tape and not in WS and no extras, but for those who have worn out their VHS tapes, it's better than nothing!

At last Ellen Burstyn's Resurrection is available on dvd; too bad it is a bare bones burned-to order disk, with no remastering so that the color is not true and Maurice Jarre's award winning score is loud and at times unpleasantly shrill. And of course no subtitles or commentary. But despite its shortcomings, this dvd is better than nothing; and I was happy to get it.

I suggest fans of this film join me in contacting The Criterion Collection (there's a place on their website to email suggestions for new titles) and request that they do a proper remastered dvd of this fine movie. They could ask Ellen Burstyn for the commentary, since the director Daniel Petrie is dead. Ms Burstyn included some information on the making of Resurrection in her autobigraphy: on working with the legendary Eva Le Galienne (Grandma),who at first acted too broadly for film, though in a style well-suited to the stage. And fascinating stuff about the scene where Edna Mae flicks a fly off her toe and realizes she can move her paralyzed legs. They employed a fly wrangler, who brought in I think it was 40 frozen flies; and they were down to the last one or two before they were able to get the shot they wanted.

Hopefully if Criterion gets enough requests, they will consider it. Thanks

This superb work of film art will bring you to tears though presented almost as a documentary. As a man with no need of earthly "beliefs" and a skeptic of most of such stories, I still have an open mind to any idea. This movie reeks of honesty. No doubt because of excellent performances, especially of Ellen Burstyn who can't be more believable, and Sam Shepard who reflects what happens when people can't see outside their framed beliefs. Powerful drama.
As a DVD collector, I BEG Amazon to push copy companies to put this on DVD, full or/and widescreen. It will sell well as all who see this movie "sell" it to their friends.

I burst into tears every time I see the final moment in the film and I am not sentimental. This film is so moving in so many ways but primarily because of Ellen's honest and committed performance. She brings so much real love to the character and is so well supported by the belief of her fellow actors that this is one of those films that could transform your understanding of what love really is, whether or not you believe in God.
I tremendously admire this film and am dispointed that it is not easily available for the public. With all the crap that is put out by Hollywood, this is a film of real substance and enlightenment. It reveals the potential of humanity's ability to love as well as what can happen when it is guided by fear. It also shows how religion and belief can be a positive and life affirming thing or something toxic and destructive. Gosh, just like real life.