I loved the film - it was dark, yes, but I liked the intrigue that is so common in all of our everyday lives - each one of that family wanted attention - not all in the correct way, but don't we all in our own special way? Richard Gere, as usual, was lovely to look at!!!!! No one overplayed and I was left with a feeling of uncertainty and I am still thinking about the film today. What should have been the main attention - namely the little girl's wonderful ability to spell - was in the end equaled and even overshadowed by her brother's search for religion, the father's search for acknowledgment and the mother's search for herself. All in all it was a lovely film and one you can watch with your children - a scarce thing these days.