American Pastoral

"A radically ordinary story."

2016 1h 48m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 751

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Set in postwar America, a man watches his seemingly perfect life fall apart as his daughter's new political affiliation threatens to destroy their family.

“A radically ordinary story.”

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Cast

Ewan McGregor
Swede Levov
Jennifer Connelly
Dawn Levov
Dakota Fanning
Merry Levov
David Strathairn
Nathan Zuckerman
Peter Riegert
Lou Levov
Rupert Evans
Jerry Levov
Uzo Aduba
Vicky
Molly Parker
Sheila Smith

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ewan McGregor
Writers: John Romano
Languages: English
Countries: Hong Kong, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 17% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Hong Kong, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CAST

Did you know

247+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ewan McGregor, shot by Martin Ruhe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alexandre Desplat. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Melissa Kent shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ewan McGregor and Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ewan McGregor directs. Martin Ruhe behind the camera. Alexandre Desplat scores. Melissa Kent cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Hong Kong, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 17% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 10 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: Hong Kong, United States of America.
4247+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
5Directed by Ewan McGregor, shot by Martin Ruhe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Alexandre Desplat. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Melissa Kent shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Ewan McGregor and Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "A radically ordinary story.".
10IMDB entry: tt0376479 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 12 themes, including "vietnam war", "husband wife relationship", "based on novel or book", "parent child relationship".

The technical file

Cinematography: Martin Ruhe
Original score: Alexandre Desplat
Editing: Melissa Kent
Production design: Daniel B. Clancy
Costume design: Lindsay McKay
Makeup / hair: Judy Chin
Sound: Christopher S. Aud
Stunt coordinator: Nash Edgerton
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $10,000,000
Box office: $1,715,728
Return: 17% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: American Pastoral (2016)

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2017-11-04
★ 6/10
About a father who never gave up on his daughter! The book was from the 90s and the story is about the 60s. Narrated from the father's perspective, that's what I think did not work in this film. This is where a film and the book does not synch. Because books are always very detail when it describes a person. In the films, they are just a simple visual where viewers have to focus on those details to have a perfect impression like the book. So I totally point out to the writer who did not quite transformed the point of the storytelling. It is not the parents to decide what their kids want to be. The film opened with a couple ready to get married, arguing with their elders about something. Soon it forwards to a few years where their relationship with their daughter seems not good. Further, they become more distant and completely lose her for the unrest in the society and the nation. But father never gives up. His love and care for her leads the way and what comes later is even more disturbing before it all ends. It was Ewan McGregor's directional debut. I don't think he would try it again, not any time soon. But I would appreciate his quality of filmmaking. He only needs a better writer and the screenplay. I also think, he should not direct himself. I never considered him a best actor. I yet to see his performance. The film was not strong enough, if you are from outside the United States. Because what they call this 60s revolution was more a misunderstood by the young people. Particularly that religious thing, they were misled and spoiled their lives. So, instead of focusing that, the film centred on a father-daughter relationship. That is why it was a decent film. Otherwise I would have rated even wrose. 5.5/10

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