In the Bedroom

Genre: psychological drama
Director: Todd Field
Release: 2001
Studio: Miramax Films
Rating: R
MBiS score: 8.2/10


At What Point Does Pain Become Unbearable?


Romance can spring up anywhere and, in the humble fishing town of Camden, Maine, Dr. Matt Fowler (Tom Wilkinson) and his wife Ruth (Sissy Spacek) are pleased but also embarrassed. Their son Frank (Nick Stahl), who’s back from architecture school for the summer, has met a single mom named Natalie (Marisa Tomei) and has fallen for her big-time. But is this just a fling for Frank or the first sign of something serious? That’s the quandary facing the Fowlers. And what about Natalie’s ex-husband, Richard Strout (William Mapother)? How does he feel about it?

There is more to IN THE BEDROOM than my synopsis indicates − for one thing, it involves a lot of anguish as alluded to in my title − but the less you know before seeing it, the harder it will hit you. Todd Field’s excellent drama, which is based on a story by Andre Dubus III, doesn’t fool around with its subject matter. The dilemma posed to the Fowler family is shown unadorned, gut-wrenching and bitter.

Should I comment on this film’s production values? Not really, for they are unassailable. As for its cast, Sissy Spacek, Marisa Tomei and Tom Wilkinson are true to their well-developed characters and Nick Stahl exudes boyish charm but the real surprise, in my mind, comes from William Mapother who plays his dark role with complete conviction. Please note that, after an auspicious beginning, IN THE BEDROOM may seem to drag on halfway through − I felt it did, I confess − but don’t quit on it because the action picks up considerably after that. As you watch Matt struggling with his emotions, you wonder about Ruth’s… and the tension generated by this gravest of questions makes for a psychologically gripping third act that will keep you on edge until the closing credits.

For these reasons and IN THE BEDROOM’s mature reflections on personal relationships and the difficulties they can engender, the time you’ll spend watching it will be time well spent. The more you live, the tougher your options get to be.


MBiS

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