Normal (2003) (TV)

Director:

Jane Anderson

Writers (WGA):

Jane Anderson (play)
Jane Anderson (teleplay)

Release Date:

14 April 2005 (Hungary)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love. Marriage. Acceptance. Sex change.

Plot:

A Midwestern husband and father announces his plan to have a sex change operation.

Plot Keywords:

Sex Change | Family Farm | Thanksgiving | Preacher | Thanksgiving Day

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Richard Bull	...	Roy Sr. - Roy's Father
Mary Seibel	...	Em - Roy's Mother
Danny Goldring	...	Church Friend Pete
Jessica Lange	...	Irma Applewood
Tom Wilkinson	...	Roy 'Ruth' Applewood
Hayden Panettiere	...	Patty Ann Applewood
Randall Arney	...	Reverend Dale Muncie
Rich Komenich	...	Co-Worker Bob
Kirk Anderson	...	Machinist
Christian Ambrose	...	Band Member #1
Joe Foust	...	Roadie #1
Sean Rice	...	Band Member #2
Mickey Tuman	...	Roadie #2
Joseph Sikora	...	Wayne Applewood (as Joe Sikora)
Clancy Brown	...	Frank

Runtime:

110 min | Argentina:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

CNH Tractor Assembly Plant & Foundry, Racine, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

The John Deare tractor company refused to have anything to do with the film. This was not so much to do with the fact that the character of Roy is sexually conflicted; instead they took exception to a scene in which Roy gets roughed up at work. The company didn't want to be associated in any way with worker-related violence.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Irma: Sweet Roy. Sweet soul. What we do for love.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Home for the Holidays

A brilliant and brave film

This is a disturbing movie, one not easy to watch. Much more than the formula driven "dysfunction of the month" movie, this tackles a very real medical and sexual problem. It does so candidly and honestly, even using humour in several scenes. Yet it takes neither cheap nor trivial shots and never fails to show deep respect for the problem and for the characters affected by it. It must have been a hard sell to the producers, a movie delving into (and under) a subject that is little understood, which has small public sympathy and which is deeply disturbing to both men and women viewers. Yet it's encouraging that all the comments I read here on IMdb were similar to mine. There was nothing negative. I gave it an 8 rather than a 10 only because Jessica Lange may have been just too much of a saint. Yet who knows what any of us would do if confronted with such a situation in our own marriages. It sparked a good discussion between my wife and I. Any movie that gets you thinking and talking is a good movie.