Normal (2003 film)
| Normal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jane Anderson |
| Produced by |
Thomas J. Busch Cary Brokaw Lydia Dean Pilcher |
| Written by | Jane Anderson |
| Starring |
Jessica Lange Tom Wilkinson |
| Music by | Alex Wurman |
| Cinematography | Alar Kivilo |
| Edited by | Lisa Fruchtman |
| Distributed by | HBO Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Normal is a 2002 drama film produced by HBO Films, which became an official selection at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. Jane Anderson, the film's writer and director, adapted her own play, Looking for Normal. The film is about the gender transition of Ruth Applewood, a transsexual woman who had been living as a man for 25 years of marriage. A Midwestern factory worker, Applewood (then going by "Roy") stuns her wife of 25 years by saying she wishes to undergo sex reassignment surgery and transition to living as a woman. The film was praised by most critics, and was nominated for numerous awards.
Plot
Applewood (Tom Wilkinson), after fainting on the night of his 25th marriage anniversary, shocks her wife Irma (Jessica Lange) by revealing that she suffers from gender dysphoria and plans to transition into living as a woman and be renamed Ruth. While Ruth tries to keep the family together, Irma's initial reaction is to separate from her. Patty Ann (Hayden Panettiere), their daughter, is more accepting, but Wayne (Joseph Sikora), their son, struggles with the transition.
Ruth faces ostracism at church and at work. She finds understanding from her boss but not from her minister. In the end, Irma discovers that love transcends gender and the family survives.
Cast
- Jessica Lange as Irma Applewood
- Tom Wilkinson as Ruth Applewood
- Clancy Brown as Frank
- Hayden Panettiere as Patty Ann Applewood
- Joe Sikora as Wayne Applewood
- Richard Bull as Roy Applewood, Sr.
- Mary Siebel as Em Applewood
Awards and nominations
Normal was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, won one Primetime Emmy Award and was nominated for another five.
Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson both received acting nominations for the Golden Globes, Primetime Emmy's, Online Film & Television Association Awards and Satellite Awards.
| Year | Association | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Primetime Emmy Awards[1] | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Tom Wilkinson | Nominated |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Jessica Lange | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Made for Television Movie | Normal | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Main Title Design | Antoine Tinguely, Jasmine Jodry, Jakob Trollbeck, Laurent Fauchere | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Hallie D'Amore, Linda Melazzo, Dorothy J. Pearl | Won | ||
| Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Jane Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards[2] | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Normal | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Tom Wilkinson | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Jessica Lange | Nominated | ||
| Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Jane Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Normal | Nominated | ||
| 2004 | Directors Guild of America[3] | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movie for Television | Jane Anderson | Nominated |
| GLAAD Media Awards[4] | Outstanding Television Movie or Miniseries | Normal | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards[5] | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Tom Wilkinson | Nominated | |
| Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | Jessica Lange | Nominated | ||
| Best Miniseries or Television Film | Normal | Nominated | ||
| Gracie Allen Awards[6] | Best Female Lead – Dramatic Special | Jessica Lange | Won | |
| Satellite Awards[7] | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Tom Wilkinson | Nominated | |
| Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | Jessica Lange | Nominated | ||
| Best Miniseries or Television Film | Normal | Nominated |
See also
References
- ↑ "Primetime Emmy Awards (2003)". IMDb. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "TV Awards - 2002/2003 (7th Awards)". Online Film & Television Association. OFTA. ofta.cinemasight.com. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ↑ "Directors Guild of America, USA (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "GLAAD Media Awards (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Golden Globes, USA (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Gracie Allen Awards (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Satellite Awards (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved February 10, 2014.