Ithaca (2015)
Ithaca (2015), an American drama directed by Meg Ryan and written by Erik Jendresen, is based on the 1943 novel The Human Comedy by William Saroyan. Set in a small fictional town of Ithaca, CA in the 1940s during World War II, the story follows 14-year-old Homer Macauley who is determined to be the best and fastest bicycle telegraph messenger. His motivation comes from his desire to take care of his widowed mother Katie, his older sister Bess, and his youngest brother Ulysses. Unfortunately, Homer’s older brother Marcus has gone off to serve in the war along with most of the other young men in town. This leaves their families worried as their father has recently died in battle. Despite this, Marcus regularly writes home to tell them about his experiences in the war and reminds Homer that he is now the man of the house.
One of Homer’s first deliveries as a telegram messenger is to a Hispanic woman who cannot read English. She asks him to read it out loud, only to find out that her son has passed away in combat as informed by the Secretary of Defense. Homer’s responsibilities at work include keeping his colleague, the telegrapher Willie Grogan, from dozing off. This involves using cold water and strong coffee to wake him up. As Homer delivers various telegrams conveying expressions of love, well-wishes, anguish, and news of death, he can’t help but feel a loss of his youthful naivety. Hoping for any message that might bring news of his brother’s return, he envies the apparent fearlessness and indifference to war displayed by Ulysses. Unable to sit still, Homer often finds himself heading into the telegraph office in case there is any need for him.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Alex NeustaedterHomer Macauley  Meg RyanMrs. Macauley  Sam ShepardWillie Grogan  Jack QuaidMarcus Macauley  Hamish LinklaterTom Spangler  Tom HanksMatthew Macauley |
Ithaca (2015), an American drama directed by Meg Ryan and written by Erik Jendresen, is based on the 1943 novel The Human Comedy by William Saroyan. Set in a small fictional town of Ithaca, CA in the 1940s during World War II, the story follows 14-year-old Homer Macauley who is determined to be the best and fastest bicycle telegraph messenger. His motivation comes from his desire to take care of his widowed mother Katie, his older sister Bess, and his youngest brother Ulysses. Unfortunately, Homer’s older brother Marcus has gone off to serve in the war along with most of the other young men in town. This leaves their families worried as their father has recently died in battle. Despite this, Marcus regularly writes home to tell them about his experiences in the war and reminds Homer that he is now the man of the house.
One of Homer’s first deliveries as a telegram messenger is to a Hispanic woman who cannot read English. She asks him to read it out loud, only to find out that her son has passed away in combat as informed by the Secretary of Defense. Homer’s responsibilities at work include keeping his colleague, the telegrapher Willie Grogan, from dozing off. This involves using cold water and strong coffee to wake him up. As Homer delivers various telegrams conveying expressions of love, well-wishes, anguish, and news of death, he can’t help but feel a loss of his youthful naivety. Hoping for any message that might bring news of his brother’s return, he envies the apparent fearlessness and indifference to war displayed by Ulysses. Unable to sit still, Homer often finds himself heading into the telegraph office in case there is any need for him.
