Far From Heaven (2002)

Set in an upper class suburb in 1957 Connecticut, a housewife (Julianne Moore) seems to have the perfect life. Married to a successful advertising executive (Dennis Quaid), two children (Ryan Ward, Lindsay Andretta) and a lovely home. But everything begins to unravel beginning with her husband's repressed homosexuality and her friendship with a black man (Dennis Haysbert) which causes resentment in her white community. Written and directed by Todd Haynes (SAFE), this is exquisite in both style and execution. A homage to Douglas Sirk, specifically ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS and IMITATION OF LIFE, Haynes goes beyond mere imitation but makes a film that feels like Sirk could have made in 1957 but seen through a 2002 sensibility without the restrictions a 1957 culture would have imposed on it. In this, Haynes is aided by the stunning cinematography of Edward Lachman which recreates the vivid color palette of a Sirk film, the lush score by Elmer Bernstein which could have written in the 1950s (actually, it was. Bernstein adapts his main theme from 1955's VIEW FROM POMPEY'S HEAD as a major part of the underscore), the awesome costumes by Sandy Powell and the art direction of Peter Rogness. With Patricia Clarkson, Viola Davis, James Rebhorn and Celia Weston.