''Safe Passage'' is a 1994 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

starring Susan Sarandon, and featuring Sam Shepard, Robert Sean Leonard, Marcia Gay Harden,

Nick Stahl Nicolas Kent Stahl (born December 5, 1979) is an American actor. Starting out as a child actor, he gained recognition for his performance in the 1993 film ''The Man Without a Face'', co-starring Mel Gibson. He later transitioned into his adult ...

, Sean Astin, and Jason London. Directed by Robert Allan Ackerman and written by Deena Goldstone, it is based on the 1988 novel ''Safe Passage'' by Ellyn Bache. The film centers on a large family that reconvenes when one of the adult sons, a

Marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military ...

deployed in Lebanon for the

Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

, is possibly among the victims of an explosion at his base. As the family waits out the news, they reopen old wounds, grudges, and unresolved issues.

Plot

Margaret "Mag" Singer, a wife and mother of seven sons, is on the verge of divorcing her husband Patrick and moving to the city for a life of her own. All of the Singers' sons—except for Simon, the youngest—are grown and live on their own. Suddenly, Mag hears news of a terrorist bombing at a Marine base in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

, where Percival, one of her sons, is stationed. Upon learning the news, the remaining five sons gather at the Singer home, anxiously awaiting updates on Percival. The sons include Alfred, the eldest Singer, who is engaged to Cynthia; Gideon, who feels responsible for Percival's decision to enlist and thus blames himself for Percival's possible death; identical twins Darren and Merle; and Izzy, the second-youngest who followed his father into science. The film's plot shifts between the Singer family resolving old hurts and wounds and flashbacks to Mag raising her sons. At the end, the family is gathered around the TV nervously waiting for word on Percival. Percival is revealed to be safe, and the family rejoices at the good news and their renewed bonds.

Cast

* Susan Sarandon as Margaret "Mag" Singer * Sam Shepard as Patrick Singer * Marcia Gay Harden as Cynthia * Robert Sean Leonard as Alfred Singer * Sean Astin as Izzy Singer *

as Simon Singer *

Matt Keeslar Matthew Keeslar (born October 15, 1972) is an American retired actor and practicing PA-C (certified physician assistant). He is an instructor of urology at the Oregon Health & Science University's School of Medicine. Life and career Matthew K ...

as Percival Singer ** Jesse Lee Soffer as young Percival *Steven Robert Ross as Darren Singer *Philip Arthur Ross as Merle Singer *Benjamin Preston as Cynthia's Son * Jordan Clarke as Coach * Jeffrey DeMunn as Doctor * Philip Bosco as Mort * Jason London as Gideon Singer * Rutanya Alda as Beth *

Joe Lisi Joe Lisi (born September 9, 1950), also credited as Joe Lissi, is an American television actor. He appeared in the NBC television show '' Third Watch'' as NYPD Lieutenant Swersky from 2000 to 2005. He also appeared on the NBC television show '' ...

as Dog Owner * Marvin Scott as Newsperson #1 * Bill Boggs as Newsperson #2 *Christopher Wynkoop as Evangelist

Production

''Safe Passage'' was shot in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. It began shooting on January 26, 1994, and completed on March 22 of that year. The film was held up for release by a court injunction brought by Dan Lupowitz, who claimed he brought both the director and Susan Sarandon into the project and wanted an "executive producer" credit. The claim was later dismissed in court.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews, with a

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wan ...

score of 54% based on 13 reviews. In a two-star review,

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

praised the cast and Sarandon’s performance, but said the family drama felt contrived and formulaic.

Lisa Schwarzbaum Lisa Schwarzbaum (born July 5, 1952) is an American film critic. She joined ''Entertainment Weekly'' as a film critic in the 1990s and remained there until February 2013. Career She has been featured on CNN, co-hosted '' Siskel & Ebert at the Mo ...

of ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the film a grade of B−, commending the acting but saying Goldstone’s screenplay “has all of the heft of a special, two-hour episode of '' Party of Five'' — a TV-shaped domestic drama overloaded with the kinds of emotions you see only on TV and never in your own family.”

Year-end lists

* 4th – Mack Bates, ''

The Milwaukee Journal The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper. It is also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely distributed. It is currently ...

'' * Honorable mention – Glenn Lovell, '' San Jose Mercury News''

References

External links

* * * * {{Robert Allan Ackerman 1994 films 1994 drama films 1990s English-language films American drama films Films about brothers Films about families Films based on American novels Films directed by Robert Allan Ackerman Films produced by Gale Anne Hurd Films scored by Mark Isham Films shot in New Jersey Films about mother–son relationships New Line Cinema films 1990s American films