Resurrection (1980)

Very disappointing...

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Blistering performances.

Resurrection is one of the most moving films I have seen in some time. However, the original had a different ending than the DVD version that came out afterwards. To this day I cannot comprehend what was in the mind of any producer to make this change.The original film ending as presented on TV shows Edna hugging the boy goodbye before the family left, but it was more of holding him close as her healing energy was passing from her into the boy.From his expression as the family drives away, he and Edna wave goodbye to each other, and you know that he would be well again soon, and Edna would go back back to her simple life.The DVD version changed that powerful ending to one where Edna simply holds the boy and the camera freeze frames her face as the credits roll.Why this crude destruction of the original is beyond me. If anyone is lucky or able to find the original, somehow put word of it out there because I have not been able to find a copy.

This is a powerful film with many scenes that stir the emotions.Edna McCauley (Ellen Burstyn) receives seemingly supernatural or maybe even divine powers after an accident. Unlike the powers that Sissy Spacek received in "Carrie", and that many others have received – mainly in horror movies – Edna uses them to heal. In fact, the only person her unique gift hurts is herself; her life is overwhelmed by the effect her power has on others.The film hasn't really dated, I remember seeing it on TV in the early 80's and I have never really forgotten it. It is gripping from start to finish and has more than one scene that will leave a lump in your throat.This brilliantly original story explores Edna's relationship with her father and those closest to her. However, all her relationships become influenced by her mysterious and unasked for power. In fact, it seems as though the only person who keeps their balance as the story unfolds is Edna herself.Set in a farming community in Kansas, her family, friends and neighbours are fairly religious by nature, but Edna attracts just as many sceptics as believers. Eventually, after things spiral out of control, she is forced to make a difficult decision about her future.The production values of the film are functional more than inspired, however Maurice Jarre contributed a very good score; a return to form really, which along with "The Man Who Would Be King", "Witness" and "Moon Over Parador", is a step above his typical by-the-numbers scores of the 70's and 80's.But the performances make this film. Ellyn Burstyn is brilliant – her performance allows Edna to be a woman first, a fact which is lost on nearly everyone who only see her great power as she lays her hands upon the afflicted to heal them. The other standout in the cast is Eva Le Gallienne as the wise and loving Grandma Pearl – the first to realise Edna's special gift. Sam Shepard adds an edgy element as Edna's unlikely lover, Cal, who can't come to terms with her power.This film stays with you, and has an ending that is a choke-back-the-emotions moment if ever there was one, capping a unique movie experience.

The acting, script, and cinematic techniques were superb (for 1980). From Ellen Burstyn through the whole cast, everyone was believable.True healers are quite rare, and it would be very tempting indeed to sensationalize this theme. Instead, the story was beautifully written, and quietly realistic, which made it quite stirring - even haunting. Ellen Burston's performance is absolutely one of her very best. Eva Le Gallienne is magnificent as Grandma Pearl. For some reason Resurrection is passing into obscurity, and I hope it will be rediscovered by more people, especially the younger generation. Consequently, I often tell others about it, and I hope everyone will try to see it.

Outside of my admiration for this gem of a film, I would like to add that the original 1980 version as it was first shown (103 minutes) has a slightly longer ending than the MCA VHS ending (102 minutes). The VHS version ends abruptly with the hug, and the titles immediately run over that freeze frame. The original, however, shows Edna hugging the boy, who then gets back into the parent's vehicle and leaves. The last shot is of Edna's smiling face. Then the titles run. As with the shortened version, the viewer knows what future awaits the boy.It is a shame that so many VHS versions such as Resurrection contain these awful alterations, but wonderful that DVD copies have returned what we all should have been able to see in the first place. Come on MCA, time to get the original cut out on DVD!