I saw this film for the first time back in 1984. Jane Fonda's performance in this is extraordinary within an assembly of very talented actors. The film isn't overtly sentimental, though it touches on several controversial social issues and has a lot of very powerful points to make on those issues. The family, compelled to move from Virginia to Detroit in the 1940s, must come to terms with adjusting to city life and living in a factory town far from the rural life they have known. For some of the children, making the adjustment is more difficult, and the family experiences its share of tragedies. Yet if much of the Dollmaker is about coping with change, it is also a story of survival and hope, and the Dollmaker (Jane) finds a way to restore the family's hope, morale, and their future livelihood through her craft. Without giving away any more spoilers, I'll just end my commentary by recommending this film to anyone who enjoys good, inspirational storytelling.
Review of The Dollmaker
