It is the fall of 1957. The Whitakers, the very picture of a suburban family, make their home in Hartford, Connecticut. Their daily existences are characterized by carefully observed family etiquette, social events, and an overall desire to keep up with the Joneses. Cathy Whitaker is the homemaker, wife and mother. Frank Whitaker is the breadwinner, husband and father. Together they have the perfect '50s life: healthy kids and social prominence. Then one night, Cathy discovers her husband's secret life and her tidy, insular world starts spinning out of control. Fearing the consequences of revealing her pain and confusion to anyone in her own social circle, she finds unexpected comfort and friendship with her African-American gardener, Raymond Deagan. Cathy's interactions with Raymond; her best friend Eleanor Fine; and her maid, Sybil, reflects the upheaval in her life. Cathy is faced with choices that spur gossip within the community, and change several lives forever.
Production Focus Features (presents); Vulcan Productions (presents); Killer Films; John Wells Productions; Section Eight; Clear Blue Sky Productions(uncredited); USA Films (uncredited);
Cast Names Fabrizio Fante; Ben Hauck; Michael Linstroth; John H. Tobin; Sarah Beth Nelson; Kristen Vermilyea; Jennifer Weedon; Julianne Moore; Dennis Quaid; Dennis Haysbert; Patricia Clarkson; Viola Davis; James Rebhorn; Bette Henritze; Michael Gaston; Ryan Ward; Lindsay Andretta; Jordan Puryear; Kyle Timothy Smith; Celia Weston; Barbara Garrick; Olivia Birkelund; Stevie Ray Dallimore; Mylika Davis; Jason Franklin; Gregory Marlow; C.C. Loveheart; June Squibb; Laurent Giroux; Alex Santoriello;
Box Office USD 15,854,988
Release Date 2002-09-22 (Woodstock Film Festival) 2002-10-25 (Virginia Film Festival) 2002-11-08 (limited) 2002-11-22
Genres Drama; Romance;
MPAA Rating [?] Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, brief
violence and language.