The Cider House Rules (1999)

The Cider House Rules is a coming-of-age movie. Tobey Maguire stars as Homer Wells. He’s an orphan in a remote area of Maine. Dr. Larch, played by Michael Caine is very fond of Homer and teaches him medical skills. Dr. Larch would love nothing more than for Homer to follow in his footsteps. Homer has something different in mind. He wants a life outside the orphanage.

Wally, a soldier, played by Paul Rudd, brings his pregnant girlfriend Candy, played by Charlize Theron, to the orphanage seeking an abortion. Homer becomes friends with the couple and decides to leave the orphanage and work on Wally’s family’s apple farm.

Wally is sent back to war, leaving Candy and Homer alone. They form a very close bond and become intimate. Candy always said she doesn’t do well being alone and gave in to temptation.

An injured Wally comes home from war and Homer respectfully and painfully, bows out of Candy’s life. Homer also learns the stark reality of the world outside the orphanage isn’t as good as he thought it would be. What path will he follow now to find where he really belongs?

The Cider House Rules is a good movie with an excellent cast – available on DVD.