The Cider House Rules

Wow! It isn't too often that I will sit down to watch a movie two days in a row. The Cider House Rules is one of those films that I could actually watch three days in a row. It was without a doubt one of the best films that I have seen in the past few months. There is so much to the this film and viewers can always see more if they take time appreciate all the movie's features.  So many different aspects made this film enjoyable for me. The multiple themes, the music, and symbolism make it very enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

Upon first watching the film, I felt that the movie was about abortion. The orphanage doctor was fine with performing abortions, while his apprentice was not okay with it. I felt a connection to this because I am interested in both the medical field and the topic of abortion. Most of the time, I am not in favor of abortion. However, after watching The Cider House Rules, my thoughts were definitely challenged. As shown in the film, if a person wants an operation done, they will find a way to have it. Sometimes that means the operation will be performed by poorly trained people in unsanitary conditions. This can lead to even more problems and complications. In the end, I found myself contemplating whether it is best to lose one life, or two from improper and unsafe operations.

Another moral issue revolved around rape. A father raped his daughter and no one did or said anything about it. His daughter became pregnant and the apprentice, who was against performing abortions, knew that he could do the operation safely and correctly for the daughter. Without needing any convincing, the apprentice did perform the abortion because he knew it was the right thing to do. Sure, it was against his morals and he would have rather not done it, but he had to break his own rules.
This could very well be the ultimate message behind The Cider House Rules, as there were many instances where rules were broken. For example, the doctor at the orphanage had been breaking the law for years by performing abortions because he knew he could help the women while others might not be able to safely. The apprentice broke his own personal rule to save the pregnant daughter from possible harm. The migrant workers that lived in the Cider House broke nearly all the rules that were listed on the wall. And lastly, when the daughter stabbed her father in the night, the apple orchard workers decided it was best to lie to police and not tell the truth as to how the father died. As the father said, "Sometimes you gotta break the rules to set things straight."

In the end, this movie has been one of the best movies that I have ever seen. My reasoning might sound illogical, but sometimes you gotta break the rules, right? I am a person that knows exactly where I stand on moral and social issues. I do not like it when my beliefs are challenged or insulted in any way, but who does? This movie definitely challenged my beliefs on certain issues and now I find myself rethinking my stances. It is amazing how films, like The Cider House Rules, can have such an effect on viewers. After all, that is partly the reason why a director chooses to make a film. They want to give viewers something that makes them think deeply. The Cider House Rules is a film that definitely gives viewers something to think about and appreciate afterwards.