Falling Angels (2003)

63% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(1,193 ratings)

Canadian filmmaker Scott Smith directs the black comedy Falling Angels, based on the novel by Barbara Gowdy and adapted for the screen by poet and author Esta Spalding. Set in the late '60s and filmed on-location in Saskatchewan, this dark family drama focuses on the three teenaged daughters of the… More Canadian filmmaker Scott Smith directs the black comedy Falling Angels, based on the novel by Barbara Gowdy and adapted for the screen by poet and author Esta Spalding. Set in the late '60s and filmed on-location in Saskatchewan, this dark family drama focuses on the three teenaged daughters of the Field household. Callum Keith Rennie plays Jim Field, the loud-mouthed, domineering patriarch who has intimidated his wife Mary (Miranda Richardson) into a catatonic state of alcoholism and depression. Norma (Monté Gagné) is the oldest, most responsible daughter; she is overburdened and preoccupied by events from the past. Middle child Lou (Katharine Isabelle) chooses the rebellious path in order to escape her father's unreasonable demands. Youngest daughter Sandy (Kristin Adams) aspires to maximum femininity, engaging in an affair with an older, married man (Mark McKinney) in the process. Falling Angels was shown at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Scott Smith
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Feb 18, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 1, 2005
Studio: Film Movement

Critic Reviews

Michael Booth, Denver Post
So many reasons to see the darkly hopeful Canadian film Falling Angels -- a terrific unknown cast showcased in subtle close-ups, and a quirky literary script largely free of cliche.
Dennis Harvey, Variety
Deftly balances elements of pathos, humor and the grotesque while maintaining a low-key tenor.
Marta Barber, Miami Herald
It's the attention to small details that makes the characters so believable, especially in the way Smith delivers their sentiments: in quiet, personal moments.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
What offends most is the patina of smugness that seeps through every frame.
Shlomo Schwartzberg, Boxoffice Magazine
There's little intelligence or realism evident on screen.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...surprisingly moving and emotional.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
Falling Angels may be rough at times but it has so much going for it, from content to performance, that it demands to be seen, appreciated and talked about.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark A

Funny? There is nothing funny about this. Where to begin? Incredible story of loss, mental illness, and family dysfunction. That last term seems inadequate here. It could easily have become mind-numbingly depressing, and very nearly did for this viewer, but strong performances by a… More
Funny? There is nothing funny about this. Where to begin? Incredible story of loss, mental illness, and family dysfunction. That last term seems inadequate here. It could easily have become mind-numbingly depressing, and very nearly did for this viewer, but strong performances by a terrific cast kept it from plummeting over the edge. Hard to imagine how a woman as depressed as Mary (Miranda Richardson) could subsequently have three daughters without her depression being diagnosed, but this was the dark ages when it comes to psychology. The three girls must care for their incapacitated mother, stay out of the way of their psychotically violent father, and somehow maintain a facade of normality for the outside world. There were so many pressures on this family, it is a wonder any of them is capable of even the most basic functions. This viewer felt like each of the girls will always struggle with life's choices. Yet, somehow in the face of unspeakable tragedies, these girls seem to have the strength to continue to struggle. These three young actresses (Katherine Isabelle, Kristin Adams, and Monte Gagne) managed to make their characters believable, sympathetic, and incredibly resilient. Hard to watch, but, wow!