Watch The Cider House Rules

The Cider House Rules is a 1999 drama film that tells the story of a young man named Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) who grows up in an orphanage in St. Cloud, Maine. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by John Irving. The story begins with Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine), the director of the orphanage, teaching Homer how to perform illegal abortions. Dr. Larch is known for performing abortions for young women who have no other options, as well as taking care of the orphans in the orphanage. Homer grows up under his tutelage, and eventually becomes his apprentice.

Homer is conflicted about the work that he is doing, and he questions the morality of performing abortions. He decides to leave the orphanage and experience the world outside. Homer is taken in by a kind couple named Wally and Candy (Paul Rudd and Charlize Theron) who are apple farmers. Homer learns about the apple cider business and helps out on their farm. He falls in love with Candy, but she is already in a relationship with Wally.

The film explores the themes of love, family, and the choices that people make in life. Homer is torn between his loyalty to Dr. Larch and his new-found family on the apple farm. He also struggles with his desire to become a doctor and his dedication to performing illegal abortions.

The film also touches on issues such as abortion, incest, and racism. One of the orphans in the orphanage, Rose Rose (Erykah Badu), is married to her own father and becomes pregnant. Dr. Larch ultimately performs an abortion on her, despite the illegal nature of the procedure.

The performances in the film are exceptional, particularly that of Michael Caine, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dr. Larch. Tobey Maguire is also excellent as Homer Wells, and Charlize Theron delivers a strong performance as Candy.

The film was directed by Lasse Hallström, and the screenplay was adapted by John Irving from his own novel. The cinematography by Oliver Stapleton is beautiful, capturing the natural beauty of the Maine countryside.

In conclusion, The Cider House Rules is a powerful and moving film that explores the complexities of life and the choices that people make. It is a poignant and emotional story that is beautifully told, with superb performances from the cast. It is a film that will linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll.

The Cider House Rules is a 1999 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 75.