Funny Farm (1988): The Crumbling Myth of Rural Tranquility
1988 • George Roy Hill • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Directed by George Roy Hill, Funny Farm follows Andy Farmer, a successful New York sportswriter who moves with his wife to a picturesque farmhouse in Redbud, Vermont, to fulfill his dream of writing the “Great American Novel.” However, the idyllic life he had imagined, complete with crackling fires and peaceful solitude, quickly dissolves into a chaotic nightmare involving eccentric locals, bizarre wildlife, and a house that is literally falling apart.
It is a classic tale of a “city slicker” facing the truth behind the romanticised American ideal of pastoral life. The film opens with a postcard-perfect New England scenery, but then lets the skeleton literally buried in the garden come to the surface, revealing a less dreamy reality. It isn’t the challenging rural lifestyle that proves to be the worst aspect, but rather the people who despise naive city dwellers who view the countryside as a simplified utopia.
Funny Farm is a blend of domestic comedy and satire that relies on its charming settings to set itself apart. The focus is more on the characters than on the camerawork, as the couple’s pursuit of simplicity becomes increasingly complicated by the environment that was supposed to provide them with peace and quiet.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: A sportswriter and his wife move from bustling New York City to a quiet Vermont town, hoping for a peaceful rural life. However, they quickly discover that small-town living comes with unexpected chaos, eccentric locals, and escalating misadventures.
- Actors: Chevy Chase, Madolyn Smith, Joseph Maher, Jack Gilpin, Caris Corfman, Kevin O’Morrison.
- Director: George Roy Hill
- Year: 1988
- Cinematographer: Miroslav Ondricek
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Genre: Comedy & Satire
