Haus der Drachen

Horton Foote again reaches into the hearts and minds of viewers who are open to the understanding of what should be the priorities of a good life such as forgiveness and love of each other. To rate our love of people higher than money and things may not always be easy, but where would the drama be in "easy?" Moreover, love that requires self-sacrifice is so important to experience. This play illustrates that drama as well. To sacrifice our time for love may be a spiritual activity; sitting with someone while they sleep, so that person CAN sleep, illuminates such a sacrifice. But, forgiveness! Forgiveness! This play is a celebration of forgiveness, something we all need.

I made the mistake of watching this slow moving drama on a cable channel. Obviously created as a stage production I found it plodding and annoying. Living in the south I found the phony Southern accents overdone, as usual, and unrecognizable. There were too many characters and the males were difficult to sort out because they all looked similar. The constant bickering which began immediately was grating and continued throughout the movie until I was urging the movie to end and get the misery over. The acting was dreadful and reminiscent of a high school production. The fact that writer Foote had two of his relatives in the cast should have been ample warning not to watch this drivel. Like many others I'm sure, I find it difficult to view Jean Stapleton as anyone other than Mrs. Archie Bunker.