A woman and her new husband returns to her hometown roots in coastal northern Florida, and must deal with family, business, and encroaching real estate development.
Writing
Sayles' dialogue lets characters contradict themselves beautifully.
Acting
Edie Falco's Marly is a masterclass in woman-done-wrong exhaustion.
Cinematography
Haskell Wexler makes Florida look haunted before the ghosts even arrive.
Director
John Sayles
Jane Alexander
Delia Temple
Mary Alice
Eunice Stokes
Angela Bassett
Desiree Perry
Gordon Clapp
Earl Pinkney
Bill Cobbs
Dr. Elton Lloyd
Edie Falco
Marly Temple
Miguel Ferrer
Lester
Timothy Hutton
Jack Meadows
Alan King
Murray Silver
James McDaniel
Reggie Perry
Mary Steenburgen
Francine Pinkney
Ralph Waite
Furman Temple
Cullen Douglas
Jefferson Cash
Clifton James
Buster Bidwell
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sayles self-financed this through his 'secret' career as a Hollywood script doctor, including uncredited work on Jurassic Park and Apollo 13.
The film's Plantation Island subplot directly references Amelia Island's real history as a Black-founded beach community destroyed by segregation and development.
US
