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  • Stress Positions
  • Fisherman's Daughter (The)
  • Monster of Many Noses (The)
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  • King Baby

Safe

Country: USA, Language: English, 119 mins

  • Director: Todd Haynes
  • Writer: Todd Haynes
  • Producer: John Hart; Ted Hope

CGiii Comment

Eerie, unsettling, cold, stark, sterile, unsympathetic - that's the first part.

And then...it goes tits up - big time - in the hippy-holistic culty-commune.

When Haynes departs from subtlety...he rams his preachy nonsense down reluctant throats...the gag reflex soon kicks in.

An atmospheric beginning leading to an evangelical messy diatribe.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

Todd Haynes's eerie medical thriller shows us that our environment has finally turned against us. Carol, a typical upper middle-class housewife, begins to complain of vague symptoms of illness. She "doesn't feel right," has unexplained headaches, congestion, a dry cough, nosebleeds, vomiting, and trouble breathing. Her family doctor treats her concerns dismissively and suggests a psychiatrist. Eventually, an allergist tells her that she has Environmental Illness. Her body is rebelling against the overload that her immune system has to deal with, as she is continually exposed to all of the chemicals that we inhale, ingest, and absorb daily. The pollution in our air, pesticides on our food, and toxins in our water, are collectively overwhelming her defenses. The ubiquitous sprays, creams, and emollients used to beautify have become deadly poisons to her. In essence, she has become allergic to the Twentieth Century. She sees Wrenwood as her only salvation, a New Agey center run (quite profitably) by Peter, a clichéd, easy-talking, demagogic guru. Unsettling and ambiguous, we are never sure about each character's hidden agenda, as they revolve around Carol, a timid, frightened pawn, overwhelmed by her condition.

Cast & Characters

Julianne Moore as Carol White;
Peter Friedman as Peter Dunning;
Xander Berkeley as Greg White;
Susan Norman as Linda;
Kate McGregor-Stewart as Claire;
Mary Carver as Nell;
Steven Gilborn as Dr. Hubbard;
April Grace as Susan;
Peter Crombie as Dr. Reynolds;
Ronnie Farer as Barbara;
Jodie Markell as Anita;
Lorna Scott as Marilyn;
James LeGros as Chris;
Dean Norris as Mover;
Julie Burgess as Aerobics instructor