The Cider House Rules is a 1999 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallstrm.
John Irving scripted this screen adaptation of his 1985 novel. Set during World War II, The Cider House Rules concerns Homer Wells , an orphan who spent most of his childhood at the St. Cloud Orphanage in rural Maine, where he grew up under the strong but affectionate care of Dr. Wilbur Larch . Larch has passed along his medical education to Homer, and the young man helps the doctor care for abandoned children and the newborn babies of unwed mothers; however, Homer refuses to assist Larch with the illegal abortions that he performs on the side; Homer has moral objections to abortion, while Larch believes in the rights of the inpidual and sees it as his duty to keep women in need away from dangerous incompetents. Wally Worthington , an air-force pilot, brings his girlfriend Candy to St. Cloud for an abortion, and Homer decides to go with them when they leave, hoping to see the world; however, the three end up going no further than the state line, where Wallys mother runs an apple orchard and cider mill, and Candys family traps lobsters. When Wally ships off to battle, Homer grows closer to Candy, and the two fall in love. But their idyllic life at the cider mill is interrupted when Rose Rose , a field worker at the orchard, becomes pregnant and her father, cider-house foreman Mr. Rose , turns out to be the father of her unborn child. This news coupled with the death of Dr. Larch, forces Homer to take a long look at both his moral principles and his future.
The film received a generally positive reception from critics. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded it just two stars, saying: The story touches many themes, lingers with some of them, moves on and arrives at nowhere in particular. By contrast, Leonard Maltin awarded the film a rare four-star rating. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes it holds a favorable 72 percent rating.
The film won two Academy Awards, John Irving won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and while Michael Caine won his second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . And it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with four other nominations at the 72nd Academy Awards.
