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Walking Across Egypt by Arthur A. Seidelman
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Canada
DVD Cover InformationActor: Edward Herrmann, Ellen Burstyn, Gail O'Grady, Mark Hamill, Pat Corley Director: Arthur A. Seidelman Brand: Ardustry Home Entertainment DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language) Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC Picture Format: 1.33:1 Running Time: 100 minutes DVD Release Date: 2005-06-14 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Model: 40779 Studio: Allumination
Movie Reviews of Walking Across EgyptMovie Review: A Wonderful Movie to Watch Again and Again! Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a gem and definitely warrants a place in the family video collection. [June 12, 2007 edit: in addition to this review, the comments associated with same may help you to decide whether you agree].
The movie opens by trailing a little stray dog as it winds its way through visually stunning southern (United States) geography, eventually along a waterway up onto the porch of Mattie Rigsbee, an elderly widow, expertly played by Ellen Burstyn, where the dog's unexpected arrival sets off a cascade of events where the journey is at least as rewarding as the destination.
The story moves steadily and effectively through a continuous stream of interpersonal exchanges and juxtapositions that serves to create ongoing alternating tension and release. Mattie attends church and hears a sermon on "the least of these, thy brethren," and is moved to act upon her faith with childlike simplicity and sincerity by bringing cake and iced tea to juvenile delinquent Wesley Benfield, the dog catcher's nephew; this stands in contrast to the hypocrisy of the preacher who delivered the sermon, which becomes exposed by the end of the movie. Mattie's advanced age stands in sharp contrast to Wesley Benfield's youth. Yet, for all their differences, they are well matched. Mattie tells Wesley he ought to have his mouth washed out for using a bad word; yet, she does not flinch at all when he mentions his first "roll in the hay."
Mattie takes life as it comes and handles every situation with aplomb, yet, Mattie's basic competence and resilience are not at all recognized or appreciated by her own middle-aged daughter who wants to move Mattie to a retirement center. In contrast, Mattie's elderly neighbor accurately observes (to Mattie's son) that Mattie is happy and can take care of herself as she has been doing for some time.
Mattie's reference to a gun Wesley has brought into her home as a "tool of the devil," smacks of an underlying gun-control agenda and does not ring true with the southern culture or values I have seen firsthand for most of my life. The movie -- which contains scant objectionable language, the fleeting reference to premarital sex (mentioned above), and some mild violence -- shatters more stereotypes than it reinforces, by far.
In the end, Mattie realizes with joy that her belief in there being "some good in that boy" is well placed. She dons the lavender suit she had set aside for her burial and excitedly sets out to rescue the stray dog and the boy, both in the "nick of time."
I am so impressed with this movie that I plan to read the book!
Summary of Walking Across EgyptWALKING ACROSS EGYPT - DVD Movie
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