12-year-old Arnold Hillerman and his 17-year-old brother Eugene live with their family on a farm in Montana. In an accident, Eugene is killed by Arnold's gun. Isolated from emotions he cannot comprehend, Arnold now has to come to terms with his grieving family - including his father, mother, hostile uncle, and grandfather - while his family has to come to terms with Arnold.
Acting
Jason Presson's devastation without dialogue.
Direction
Cain lets silence do the screaming.
Cinematography
Montana landscapes as emotional prison.
Director
Christopher Cain
Jason Presson
Arnold Hillerman
Robert Duvall
Joe Hillerman
Glenn Close
Ruth Hillerman
Dean Cain
Eugene Hillerman
Wilford Brimley
George Jansen
Frederic Forrest
Andy Jansen
Cindy Fisher
Amalie
Gail Youngs
Lu Jansen
Linda Hamilton
Eva Crescent Moon Lady
Tom Waits
Petrified man at carnival (uncredited)
Mary Ellen Trainor
Doris Simms
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Gina Berriault's 1957 short story, this was one of the first films to seriously examine childhood trauma through a psychological lens rather than melodrama.
Dean Cain's film debut as Eugene—he dies in the first act, making this possibly cinema's most doomed debut performance.
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