Watch We Were the Mulvaneys

We Were the Mulvaneys is a 2002 drama film based on Joyce Carol Oates' novel of the same name. It tells the story of the Mulvaney family, who seem to be living the American Dream until a devastating incident shatters their seemingly perfect lives. The patriarch of the family is Michael Mulvaney (Beau Bridges), who runs a successful roofing business. His wife Corinne (Blythe Danner) is a devoted homemaker who dotes on her husband and children. Together, they have four children - Michael Jr. (Tom Guiry), Patrick (Mark Famiglietti), Marianne (Tammy Blanchard), and Judd (Jacob Pitts).

The Mulvaneys are a tight-knit family and enjoy spending time together, but their lives are turned upside down when Marianne is raped at a high school party. In the aftermath of the assault, the family is forced to confront a web of secrets and betrayals that have been brewing beneath the surface.

As the Mulvaneys struggle to come to with their grief and anger, they begin to drift apart. Michael turns to alcohol and women to ease his pain, while Corinne becomes increasingly distant and withdrawn. Marianne, who has always been the apple of her father's eye, feels abandoned and alone.

The film follows the Mulvaneys over the course of several years, as they try to put their lives back together. Each family member copes with their trauma in their own way, with some finding solace in new relationships and others struggling to move on.

Throughout it all, the Mulvaneys must confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other. They must confront their own failings as parents and spouses, as well as the ways in which their community and society at large have let them down.

We Were the Mulvaneys is a poignant and thought-provoking film that explores themes of family, love, and loss. The performances of the cast, particularly Beau Bridges, Blythe Danner, and Tammy Blanchard, are exceptional, and the film's cinematography masterfully captures the beauty and isolation of rural upstate New York.

The film is a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable tragedy. While it is a heartbreaking story, it is also a story of redemption and hope.