Watch A Walk on the Moon

In the summer of 1969, tensions are high in America. The Vietnam War is raging, civil rights protests are sweeping the nation, and NASA is about to put a man on the moon. Against this backdrop, we meet Pearl Kantrowitz (Diane Lane), a bored housewife who feels trapped in her mundane existence. She lives in a small town in upstate New York with her husband Marty (Liev Schreiber) and their two children. Marty is a traveling salesman who is rarely home, leaving Pearl to take care of the household and the kids.

One day, Pearl's mother-in-law (Tovah Feldshuh) invites the family to spend the summer at a bungalow colony in the Catskills. At first, Pearl is reluctant to go, but her daughter Alison (Anna Paquin) convinces her to take a break from her routine and have some fun. At the colony, Pearl meets Walker Jerome (Viggo Mortensen), a free-spirited hippie who sells bracelets at a nearby music festival. Despite their different backgrounds, Pearl and Walker are drawn to each other, and soon they begin a passionate affair.

As Pearl explores her newfound freedom and sexuality, she also confronts the realities of her life. She realizes that her marriage is not as strong as she had thought, and that she may not be satisfied with the role of a housewife. Meanwhile, her daughter Alison is grappling with her own issues, including her burgeoning sexuality and her growing awareness of the injustices in the world.

Throughout the film, we see the characters wrestling with the conflicts of their time. The moon landing, which serves as a backdrop throughout the movie, symbolizes the possibility of change and progress, but it also highlights the stark contrast between the grandeur of space and the struggles of everyday life. The film does an excellent job of capturing the mood of the era, with its mix of hope and despair, progress and stagnation.

Diane Lane is outstanding as Pearl, conveying a full range of emotions as she navigates the complexities of her situation. Her chemistry with Viggo Mortensen is electric, and their love scenes are tastefully done and believable. Anna Paquin is also excellent as Alison, playing the character with a mix of vulnerability and defiance.

One of the strongest elements of the film is its attention to detail. The setting and costumes capture the feel of the 1960s without feeling overly nostalgic or cliched. The bungalow colony is beautifully rendered, with its tacky decor and family-friendly activities. The soundtrack is also noteworthy, with a mix of period-specific songs and original music that complements the mood of each scene.

Overall, A Walk on the Moon is a powerful film that resonates with anyone who has struggled to reconcile their desires with the expectations of society. It captures the simultaneous excitement and turmoil of an era in a way that feels authentic and compelling. With strong performances and excellent direction, it is a must-see for anyone interested in the human stories behind the larger events of the 1960s.

A Walk on the Moon is a 1999 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 70.