Ironweed (1987)

Albany, New York, Halloween, 1938. Francis Phelan and Helen Archer are bums, back in their birth city. She was a singer on the radio, he a major league pitcher. Death surrounds them: she’s sick, a pal has cancer, he digs graves at the cemetery and visits the grave of his infant son whom he dropped; visions of his past haunt him, including ghosts of two men he killed. That night, out drinking, Helen tries to sing at a bar. Next day, Fran visits his wife and children and meets a grandson. He could stay, but decides it’s not for him. Helen gets their things out of storage and finds a hotel. Amidst their mistakes and dereliction, the film explores their code of fairness and loyalty.
Hector Babenco, Cornelia ‘Nini’ Rogan
Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker, Tom Waits, Nathan Lane, Michael O’Keefe, Diane Venora, Fred Gwynne, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Ted Levine, Frank Whaley, Laura Esterman
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