Anne Phelan, Francis’ wife. But there is not much visible 'acting' in this movie; the actors are too good for that." After his wife left him penniless and poisoned his dog, he became a bum. If you ride with the emotional undertow of Ironweed, there's no way you'll ever look at street people in quite the same way". Eventually, Francis comes back to his old family house and tries to make peace with his wife Annie Phelan (Carroll Baker), his son Billy (Michael O'Keefe) and daughter Peg (Diane Venora). On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 58% based on reviews from 24 critics. Death surrounds them: she's sick, a pal has cancer, he digs graves at the cemetery and visits the grave of his infant son whom he dropped; visions of his past haunt him, including ghosts of two men he killed. Jack owns an apartment where Helen and Francis stay for part of Halloween evening. All three appear not as people but as either Francis’ direct remembrances or as presences... Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this Ironweed study guide and get instant access to the following: You'll also get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and 300,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.
(Life magazine was the only publication allowed on "Ironweed… She is a contrary woman, besieged by diarrhea when Francis and Helen visit and thus more antagonistic.

There isn't much more to the film's Helen than this, and indeed the character may go no deeper, but she's a marvel all the same. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He later finds that his fellow hobo, Helen, has died. He is not, in short, just any bum but an ironweed, one who survives, no matter what. Helen Archer, Francis’ constant companion on this pilgrimage. Gerald Phelan, Francis’ mother, father, and infant son, respectively. She was a singer on the radio, he a major league pitcher. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Behind the runny, red-rimmed eyes, the nervous chatter and the haunted expression, Miss Streep is even more utterly changed than her costar, and she even sings well. Ironweed is a 1987 American drama film directed by Héctor Babenco. Watching ``Ironweed`` is like having a large, metal object lodged in your brain for 2 1/2 hours. He... eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Got it! Miss Streep uses the role of Helen as an opportunity to deliver a stunning impersonation of a darty-eyed, fast-talking woman of the streets, an angry, obdurate woman with great memories and no future. This time he has come back to earn some money, having lived life as a bum. True to Kennedy’s work as a journalist, the realist novel recreates a bygone era in vivid detail. In the end he does go home but stays in the attic, though Kennedy does give us a somewhat ambiguous ending.
Nostalgically recalling her Vassar education and singing extempore at the Gilded Cage saloon, Helen remains a devout Catholic and a loyal soulmate to Francis as he relives his past. Major portio… When he finally goes back to his house, to his surprise, Annie has forgiven him and welcomes him back. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by William Kennedy, who also wrote the screenplay. Roger Ebert wrote, "Nicholson and Streep play drunks in Ironweed, and actors are said to like to play drunks, because it gives them an excuse for overacting. She is later found dead, her body partly mutilated by dogs. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. While in Albany, Francis is visited by ghosts from his past as he exorcises his guilt for his wasted years. When Francis carelessly, recklessly and thoughtlessly picked his infant son by his diaper, the baby slipped... What character did Francis carry on his shoulder in Ironweed? However he is arrested before he gets the money and has to work as a grave digger to earn some money, working in the cemetery where Gerald is buried.