Film review

Abstract

"Set in the United States in World War II, Cider House Rules is an adaptation of John Irving’s book of the same title. The story revolves around Dr Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine) and his assistant, Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire). Dr Larch runs an orphanage which is seen as a place where you either got a life (adopted) or left one (delivered a baby or had an abortion). Homer is an orphan who grew up at the orphanage. Though abortions were illegal at the time, Larch performs them because he believes that any woman who comes to his doorstep should be allowed to decide whether to abort or deliver and leave the child at the orphanage. We see the trauma that children undergo, as they are put up for adoption but never find a home. Homer shares this sense of dejection, though he is closely involved in the activities at the orphanage. Larch is unable to convince Homer to perform abortions which he refers to as a very Christian ideology