Crimes of the Heart (film)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Crimes of the Heart is a 1986 American black comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford, adapted by Beth Henley from her own play. It stars Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Tess Harper, and Hurd Hatfield. The story follows the Magrath sisters—Babe, Lenny, and Meg—who reunite in their Mississippi home after Babe shoots her abusive husband. As they confront family secrets, romance, and tough choices, the sisters discover the resilience of sisterhood.

Plot (simplified): Babe has just shot her husband, Zackery Botrelle, and returns home on the sisters’ birthday as Old Granddaddy lies ill. Meg, who once hoped to be a singer in Hollywood, and Lenny, a shy caretaker, join Babe as secrets come to light. Babe reveals an affair with Willie Jay and faces possible self-defense defenses as attorney Barnette Lloyd urges options. The sisters learn about past abuses, Meg’s failed career, and Lenny’s lonely life. Granddaddy has a stroke and later falls into a coma. Babe’s future is uncertain as charges could be dropped, and she even contemplates suicide before Meg intervenes. In the end, the sisters cling to family and friendship, sharing a birthday cake and navigating an uncertain but hopeful future.

Cast (selected): Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Tess Harper, Hurd Hatfield.

Production and release: The film was directed by Bruce Beresford, with a screenplay by Beth Henley, based on her 1979 play. Music by Georges Delerue; cinematography by Dante Spinotti; editing by Anne Goursaud;Produced by Freddie Fields. It opened December 12, 1986, in the United States, runs 105 minutes, and was distributed by De Laurentiis Entertainment Group. The budget was about $20 million, and the box office gross was around $22.9 million.

Reception and awards: Crimes of the Heart received positive reviews, especially for its performances—notably Spacek’s. It earned three Academy Award nominations: Best Actress (Spacek), Best Supporting Actress (Harper), and Best Adapted Screenplay. At the Golden Globes, it was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Spacek won Best Actress – Musical or Comedy. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 82% rating based on 22 reviews. It opened on 246 screens and grossed about $1.4 million in its opening weekend.