Directed by Paul Schrader • 1997 • United States
Starring Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn

Driven by powerhouse performances from Nick Nolte and an Oscar-winning James Coburn, Paul Schrader’s searing adaptation of the novel by Russell Banks is an emotionally intense exploration of family, masculinity, and violence across generations. When a mysterious tragedy shatters the quiet of his small town, Wade Whitehouse (Nolte), with the aid of his new girlfriend (Sissy Spacek), is forced to confront his past and reexamine his life. Determined to fill the emptiness, he must either stand tall against his childhood demons or fall victim to the abusive ways of his father (Coburn).