Drama
United States of America
The Cider House Rules is set in rural Maine in the 1940s and follows the story of Homer Wells, a young man who has grown up in an orphanage. Dr. Wilbur Larch, the director of the orphanage, has raised Homer as his own son, teaching him the skills of a doctor so that he can take over the orphanage when Larch retires.
Despite his foster father's hopes that he will stay and take over the orphanage, Homer longs for a life outside the institution. He leaves with Wally and Candy, who have come to the orchard for a seasonal job picking apples. Wally is going off to war and has promised Candy that they will get married when he returns.
The three settle in a cider house owned by an apple orchard owner named Mr. Rose. Homer falls in love with Candy, and their relationship evolves amid the backdrop of the Second World War. Homer continues to practice his medical skills, but he also discovers that Mr. Rose is forcing his daughter, Rose Rose, to have sex with the migrant workers. Homer becomes embroiled in Mr. Rose's seedy world and must decide whether to stay and fight or leave.
Meanwhile, Dr. Larch's legacy continues at the orphanage, which he has turned into an abortion clinic. Homer's best friend, a young orphan named Fuzzy, comes to the clinic seeking an abortion, and Homer must decide whether to perform the procedure or risk losing Fuzzy's friendship.
The Cider House Rules is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of love, choice, and destiny. At its heart, the film is about the struggle to find one's place in the world and make hard choices that define who we are.
