Far from Heaven is a uniquely beautiful film from one of the smartest and most idiosyncratic of contemporary directors, Todd Haynes (Safe and Velvet Goldmine). It takes the lush 1950s visual style of so-called women's pictures (particularly those of Douglas Sirk, director of Imitation of Life and Magnificent Obsession) to tell a story that mixes both sexual and racial prejudice. Julianne Moore, portraying an amazing fusion of vulnerability and will power, plays a housewife whose husband (Dennis Quaid) has a secret gay life. When she finds solace in the company of a black gardener (Dennis Haysbert), rumours and peer pressure destroy any chance she has at happiness. It's astonishing how a movie with such a stylised veneer can be so emotionally compelling; the cast and filmmakers have such an impeccable command of the look and feel of the genre that every moment is simultaneously artificial and deeply felt. Far from Heaven is ingenious and completely engrossing. --Bret Fetzer

A great thought-provoking movie, with fine extras that explain the film's style and pedegree.

The 50's style use of rich full colours works well on a big TV screen.

A 50's ideal family is torn apart by two things; the father loses his struggle with repressed homosexuality; the mother gets closer and closer to her black gardener.

It is the latter issue that horrifies small town Connecticut. The couple only discuss the gay issue in very broad indirect terms, and the screen goes almost dark. I suppose that reflects what a taboo subject it was back then.

There are nods here and there to the films of Douglas Sirk and the like. I sensed a comparison to 'Imitation Of Life' as the black housekeeper holds things together as the family breaks down.

A meaty drama with an unusual, mannered style. Well worth watching.

Todd Haynes' 2002 film was a masterpiece of subtle subversion that paid homage to the richly coloured 1950s film style (and specifically the 'women's pictures' of Douglas Sirk and his contemporaries). What could have been hollow pastiche is in fact a thoughtful and moving examination of US social pretences in the 50s. Such a visually arresting style - the colours are saturated to a degree that exceeds even that of the filmmaking period - is appropriate for a film about keeping up appearances at a time of deep social conservatism. Like the 'smoke and mirrors' Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore) is teased of employing to maintain her beauty by her closeted gay husband Frank (Dennis Quaid), the film plays with the notion of superficial stylishness.

As vivid as a William Eggleston photograph, 'Far From Heaven' could have easily been high on lovingly recreated (and rather esoteric) cinematography but low on substance. However, Todd Haynes has pulled off a double coup here, by creating a romantic melodrama to melt the most cynical of hearts while subverting the genre with ruminations of the hypocrasies at the heart of 1950s America. Thus we have a film that seduces and sedates its audience with a winsome, nostalgic atmosphere, but then confronts it with stark questions of civil rights, sex and family life. By making the viewer uncomfortable, 'Far From Heaven' succeeds in exposing the hypocracies, not just of 1950s, but also of society today - which, like the title suggests, is far from perfect.

Did I just see the wrong film? Yes a beautiful piece, the 'tree' scenes in particular and yes excellent performances, however I was really disappointed with the screen play and kept waiting for something even deeper. I guess it was the continuing take on the 50s supression. However at the end of the film it wasn't the homosexual or black issue that I was left pondering but the attitude to women in the 50s. In the end he was able to leave his family and explore his sexuality and yet she, unable to follow her heart was left to raise her children and pick up the pieces. It felt very much like 'woman stay in the home'.

From the start, this film is saturated in a nostalgic lyricism. The lovely suburban street in the fall, the trees all shades of red and orange; the sleek 1950s cars, all fins, two-tone colours and chrome. The score is light, tuneful and delicately orchestrated, recalling Virgil Thomson. This is the America of the north-eastern seaboard where all the best Americans come from. Most of the characters appear to be thoroughly decent, as well. At first. Julianne Moore plays the wife and Dennis Quaid the husband and they have two model children who call their Dad 'Sir' and do as they are told. Julianne Moore is a paragon: she is kind, tolerant, liberal and incredibly resilient. It is she who bears the emotional trauma of her husband's re-emergence as a gay. He had suppressed his sexuality for the duration of the marriage so far. She takes it in her stride and supports him rather than showing rejection.

One effect of this threat to her marriage is a growing relationship with her black (over-qualified) gardener (Dennis Haysbert). He, too, is a thoroughly decent man who has a lovely little daughter. They begin to meet discreetly - or so they think. They are obviously made for each other but meet disapproval and cruel behaviour from both sides of the racial divide. This is not the Deep South, so there are no burning crosses on the front lawn - just a feeling that it is everyone's business to express their views. In one scene, the couple are talking in the street and Julianna Moore breaks off their relationship. As she moves to go, he puts a restraining hand on her arm. The whole street, anonymous until now, freezes and men call warnings to Haysbert to unhand her. Ms. Moore's best friend, a thorough brick up to then, cuts her when she hears about the relationship with Haysbert.

All this is worked through but remains unresolved. One moral of the film is that the bad people of this world always try to bring down the good. The originality of the film lies in the paradoxical enhancement of the human cruelty by its very lyricism and beauty.

The acting is first rate. Julianna Moore keeps her character on a tight reign. Her character is a tough lady - controlled but warm. This makes the scene where she eventually breaks down into uncontrollable weeping all the more powerful.

I had high expectations of this film as it has an all out star cast! However although the story was a thought provoking one (husband comes out to his wife being gay) Yep thats it in a nutshell! and yes some under lying tones of the turmoil it causes himself and his devoted family, I still found it to be such a slow moving film! You will probably go by all the other reviews (thats what I look at the majority!)if you do decide to go ahesd and buy please leave your feed back in the review as id be interested to know if anyone has the same experience with this film that i had! thank you!