A Home of Our Own

Frances Lacey (Bates) has no money, no husband, six kids and a broken-down '48 Plymouth. Undeterred, she settles on an abandoned farm shack in a middle-American pothole and convinces its owner, Mr Moon (Soon-Teck Oh), to let the Lacey clan set up house there in return for chores and odd jobs. With bits and pieces from the local scrap merchant, and a great deal of determination, the family begins to fix up the place. Hardship takes its toll, however, and the eldest son, Shayne (Furlong), becomes increasingly embittered towards his indomitable mom. It's hard to imagine much of an audience for this gritty, poignant movie. Tony Bill presents a vision of working-class American experience that is, perhaps, a shade sentimental, but still largely authentic and unpatronising. With notably tough and tender performances from Bates and Furlong, and good work from cinematographer Jean Lepine, this is a solid, small-scale film with its heart in the right place.