All That Heaven Allows
Another lacerating depiction of the values of post-war middle-class Americans from Douglas Sirk, who Universal seemed to regard merely as their house soap-opera specialist. Once again a long-suffering spouse is put through the ringer; here it’s widow Jane Wyman taking flak from the country club set as well as her selfish kids for her affair with much younger free spirit Rock Hudson.
About Allison Anders
Allison Anders, from the release of her first feature, Border Radio (1989; co-written and co-directed with Kurt Voss) through Things Behind the Sun (2001), has established an innovative body of work marked by ensemble acting and strong women characters. Her films as writer-director also include Gas Food Lodging (1992), Mi Vida Loca (1993) and Grace of My Heart (1996). A professor at University Of California, Anders has also directed episodes of the TV Shows Sex In The City, Cold Case, The L-Word and What About Brian and the recent Lifetime TV movie, Ring of Fire, for which she was nominated for an Emmy. In the last year, Allison has worked frequently, directing episodes of Gang Related, The Divide, Murder in the First, and Orange is the New Black.