One of those lovingly photographed films drenched in nostalgia, warmth and the scent of magnolias, this is also a portrait of a time when life changes irrevocably for one South Carolina family. Mother (Jill Clayburgh) takes off for a second life and 17-year-old daughter Lucille (Kathryn Erbe) is left not only to cope with leaving school, drifting away from her boyfriend and trying to get her father (Albert Finney) to survive the blow, but face the arrival of her pregnant, newly-married sister (Suzy Amis) and a husband (Kyle MacLachlan) whom Lucille soon begins to fancy. For its first hour, this film is nearly as beguiling as its teenage heroine, although her forwardness with men seems at odds with her character as established in earlier scenes. No matter, the film runs out of steam towards the end and is of little account after Clayburgh returns to hearth and home - upsetting Finney who has taken up with 'widder-woman' Piper Laurie. Laurie's appropriately sassy in this role, but some of the other acting isn't up to much.


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