Watch The Stone Angel

The Stone Angel is a 2007 film that follows the life of Hagar Shipley, a 90-year-old woman who is struggling to come to terms with her past and accept the inevitability of her own mortality. Starring Ellen Burstyn as Hagar, the film is a poignant and deeply moving exploration of love, loss, and the human experience. The film begins with Hagar at a nursing home, where she has been sent by her son Marvin (Dylan Baker) against her wishes. She is stubborn and fiercely independent, and resents the fact that she is no longer able to live on her own. As she reflects on her life, we are transported back to her youth, where we see her as a beautiful and headstrong young woman who is determined to defy the expectations of her family and society.

Throughout the film, we see Hagar struggle to assert her independence and make her own path in life. She marries Bram Shipley (Cole Hauser), a self-made man who grew up in poverty, against the wishes of her father, and together they have two sons, Marvin and John. However, their marriage is far from perfect, and Hagar realizes too late that she was never truly in love with Bram.

As Hagar grows older, she becomes increasingly isolated and distant from her family. Marvin and John both resent their mother for the way she has treated them over the years, and Hagar herself struggles to come to terms with her own mistakes and regrets. She is haunted by the memory of her first love, a young man named John (Kevin Zegers), and the choices she made that led her away from him.

As Hagar's health declines and she comes to terms with her own mortality, she begins to realize the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. She reaches out to her sons and attempts to mend the rifts between them, while also trying to come to terms with the choices she has made throughout her life.

The Stone Angel is a beautifully crafted film that explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition with sensitivity and nuance. Burstyn delivers a masterful performance as Hagar, capturing both the character's fierce independence and her deep vulnerability. Horne and Page also deliver strong supporting performances as the young Hagar and her granddaughter, respectively.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is its gorgeous cinematography, which captures the sweeping landscapes of rural Canada with stunning beauty. The score, composed by Mychael Danna, is also a standout, perfectly complementing the film's emotional resonance.

Overall, The Stone Angel is a deeply moving and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of the human experience with sensitivity and grace. Burstyn's performance alone is worth the price of admission, but the film's themes of forgiveness, regret, and redemption make it a must-see for anyone who has ever struggled to come to terms with their own past.