Movie #809 "Digging to China" is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed. First, the cast is super competent with Evan Rachel Wood, whom I first probably saw on a t.v. show called "Relativity" and was most impressed with her, and I have tried to see everything she has done since then. She is one very capable up and coming big time actress. And I have always been a fan of Mary Stuart Masterson since "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Some Kind of Wonderful." Kevin Bacon is also a favorite of mine, and I have also seen most of his work. I got the chance to spend two hours with Marian Seldes when I saw her on stage in "doubles" on Broadway with Angela Lansbury, and she is super! Moriarty adds to the humor in the opening half of the film so she helps, too. But the real reason I wanted to see this one was the director, Tim Hutton, whom I have been a fan of since "Ordinary People." He was directed well by Robert Redford at that time, and I was impressed that in this film he was trying to give back to the industry by introducing more people to the talent of Evan Rachel Wood. Now, as far as the film, it reminded me a lot of another favorite film of mine, "I Am Sam", but that was a 5 pointer to me because of a few things: 1) having real disabled people IN the film as major parts of the cast 2) a very strong secondary plot layer with Michelle Pfeiffer and her family and 3) that the disabled person (Sam is played by Sean Penn) is trying to raise his daughter and he goes through all that turmoil of wanting the best for his daughter vs. trying to raise her himself. It tore my heart out when I watched it (and have repeatedly watched it when I introduce this gem of a film to others). This one is gut wrenching, too, but in a different way. The disabled character played by Kevin Bacon becomes best friends with a very creative , one-of-a-kind 10 year old in this one ----and because of the differences in age and gender, it becomes difficult for people, esp. her sister, to understand and okay it. It also has a moment when the disabled person has to give up what he loves because he knows there's very little chance he will ever change, but the little girl will and he can't get in the way of that. And that is a gut-wrenching moment, just not as emotional as father to daughter. Otherwise, well acted, well directed, good emotionally charged story line that will keep you watching from beginning to end, so I highly recommend it.
Digging to China1998PG103 minutes I gave it 4 out of 5 stars
In 1960s North Carolina, a precocious 10-year-old girl has fantasies of escaping her unhappy home. When she befriends a mentally disabled man on his way to an institution, their close bond stirs up concerns that threaten to break them apart.
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