angelbix-77765 Review of Cavedweller

Cavedweller (2004)

Based on a Dorothy Allison novel and is beautifully done.

[10/10 · 10 June 2023]

I had not known this book was adapted to screen. I happened upon the title in a recent Kevin Bacon filmography search and immediately clicked on the title to see if it was the same Cavedweller that was one of my favorite Dorothy Allison books. Lo and behold it is! Anyone who is familiar with Dorothy Allison's works knows her stories are gritty and hard. Ms. Allison also wrote B astard Out of Carolina, which was my first introduction to the author and that book was unforgettable. That was also brought to the screen and is one of my most favorite films. Cavedweller is the same indie film feel. The story translates to the screen beautifully. Kyra Sedgewick plays Delia who has left her terribly abusive husband Clint who is played by Aiden Quinn who really portrays the hardened man with great believability. Delia leaves behind her two young daughters because this man was about to kill her. She is a fledgling singer and discovers Kevin Bacon who is in a band and she and Kevin become band mates and lovers and have a daughter, Cissy. A lot of that happy story is only seen briefly in flashbacks. Kevin's character is killed in a car accident and grieving Cissy seems to blame her mother Delia for his death. Delia decides that she needs to go back home to Georgia and reunite with her two other daughters, who by now are teenagers. (At least 10 years have passed since she left, as her daughters are 16 and 14 now and Cissy is about 11 or 12. ) She and Cissy take a road trip back home this is where the meat of the story takes place. I won't give up the details of what happens, but let's just say that I was impressed that they stuck pretty close to the book. Delia's daughters, Dede, 16, and Amanda, 14, are like polar opposites in character. Aidan Quinn's character has also changed a great deal. The character development was done well and this story is about forgiveness and redemption. It also highlights the hypocrisy of some so called Christians that hide behind their fire and brimstone Bible verses, judging others. I loved this movie.