This is probably one of the most honest American culture movies ever written, directed and acted. Anyone who has siblings and grew up with typical sibling rivalries can relate to the both the humor and the heartbreak. The plot provides a nostalgic glimpse into growing up in small town America, and how our placement in the family unit plays a crucial role in how each one of us enters society as adults. For example, I connected with Evalita because I am the youngest girl in a family of four. It is I, whom Daddy spoiled and I am the the only child who left the nest to "suck the marrow" from life... the entertainer. Like myself, Evalita chose the "road less traveled and that made all the difference." She lived, which is why she sings "Find Your Way", a song about the suffering we endure and the joy we feel as we journey through life. I think "Daddy," too, truly lived his life, which is why Evalita is his favorite. Evalita's role in the story is symbolic of the choices we all have, and how our decisions affect who we are. She is a mirror for the other characters, showing not only her family members, but all of us, a part of ourselves. And, last but not least, Beverly D'Angelo plays the Evalita, as she does all her roles, with immaculate finesse. A definite must see for those who have yet to understand the importance of family.
