DIGGING TO CHINA

Actor Timothy Hutton captures deep human emotions in his directorial debut, a small independent movie titled DIGGING TO CHINA. Reminiscent in some ways to the American classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, the movie is a minor gem that, regrettably, may not get the kind of theater bookings it deserves.

Harriet, played by Evan Rachel Wood in a marvelous performance, is a precocious 10-year-old girl who lives with her alcoholic mother (Cathy Moriarty) and her independent, 25-year-old sister, Gwen (Mary Stuart Masterson). The two women and the little girl operate a rundown motel surrounding their nice, but ramshackle, two-story home. When the audience first meets Harriet, she is trying to dig “all the way to China.” Harriet has developed an extraordinary imagination as a means of coping with her mother who, though caring, drinks too much, and with Gwen, who seems to be only interested in the young men with whom the movie implies she sleeps. “I want something magical to happen,” Harriet narrates.

One day, while Harriet is sitting by the motel’s entrance to sell a bunch of junk to passing cars, one of the cars breaks down in front of her. Harriet is curious to find out who these newcomers are. She meets an older woman named Leah, played by Marian Seldes, and a mentally handicapped young man named Ricky, played by Kevin Bacon in another wonderful performance. Leah is taking her son Ricky, whose brain was accidentally deprived of oxygen at birth, to an institution because she will soon die of cancer.

Mentally, Ricky and Harriet are about the same age and can relate to each other on their limited cognitive level. Harriet even takes Ricky to “Show and Tell” at school one day, where the students are intrigued by all the postcards Ricky has collected from the many trips across country that he and his mother have taken. Harriet and Ricky also share a common bond because Ricky doesn’t want to live at the institution and Harriet hates living with her sister Gwen. Harriet’s feelings intensify when a tragic circumstance changes her relationship with Gwen. As Ricky tells Harriet at one point, “We’re one big sad monster.”

As Harriet and Ricky’s friendship grows, Leah and Gwen grow concerned. Harriet has a knack for taking Ricky on childhood adventures in the nearby fields and woods, but Leah is overprotective of her son. Gwen mistrusts the age difference between the two. The movie very subtly implies that Gwen is afraid that Ricky will take sexual advantage of Harriet, but sex with anyone, much less a little girl, is clearly not part of Ricky’s world. The contrast between the two innocent minds of Ricky and Harriet and those of Leah and Gwen, who have been tainted by adult realities, is extremely powerful in this movie. Also powerful is the way in which the movie uses screen doors to depict the differences and communication problems separating these characters. In the second half of its story, some twists and turns make significant changes in the relationships and lives of Gwen and Harriet.

DIGGING TO CHINA is basically a character study of Harriet and Ricky, and the adults who affect their lives. Although there are no explicit religious or spiritual references, it tells a touching story of friendship, family love and family reconciliation. The movie also has an uplifting, quiet ending that is pro-family, a fact that complements the movie’s total lack of foul language, vulgarities and crude sexual dialogue.

Timothy Hutton, best known for his Oscar-winning performance in ORDINARY PEOPLE, turns in a fine effort for his directorial debut. He stages his scenes and edits the movie in a way that draws you into the lives of his characters, especially the childish minds and adventures of Harriet and Ricky.

Hutton’s ability to draw a brilliant performance from a relatively unknown child actress from North Carolina, Evan Rachel Wood who plays Harriet, also indicates his skill. Miss Wood displays a unique talent for complex facial expressions that bring her character to life. Her performance is one of the most realistic ones given by a child, or even an adult, in this busy year. The other performances in DIGGING TO CHINA are also high quality, especially Kevin Bacon in perhaps his best, most effective performance, and Mary Stuart Masterson, who displays a nice range of emotion, including hostility, concern, distress, and family love.

DIGGING TO CHINA is a good movie for families to see together and afterwards discuss. It addresses many issues, ranging from living in a dysfunctional family, alcoholism, relating to people who are different, sibling rivalry, using your imagination to have fun, and running away from home. Although younger children may be bored by it and will not fully understand the drama in it, they may like watching the little girl and her interactions with Ricky and the other adults in the movie. The sexual references in this movie are very slight and low profile. The audience only sees Gwen kissing a young man twice. One morning, a boyfriend shows up for breakfast, but he’s already dressed. At another point, Harriet narrates, “She (Gwen) was always making some guy feel better.” Even the alcoholism of Harriet’s mother, played by Cathy Moriarty, is indirectly implied – the audience sees her lounging on a couch drinking in one scene.

Finally, although Harriet tries to run away from home twice and displays a rebellious attitude several times in the movie that gets her into trouble, DIGGING TO CHINA shows that people can learn from situations that occur in life and make healthy choices and positive changes to improve their lives. This movie also celebrates childhood and motherhood. It is definitely a family friendly movie that moral audiences will want to catch. Hopefully, it will receive a better distribution and wider acclaim so it can increase its audience.