About 1 hour and 7 minutes into this movie I realized that the story is totally joyless. By that I mean, even when things are going bad in real life, over a series of days and weeks there are a few funny or joyous things that happen anyway. But this movie is joyless. It is a good story, and has a very realistic feel to much of it, except for the non-stop somberness.This is mainly the Kyra Sedgwick show, she produces and stars as Delia Byrd, who had abandoned her abusive husband and two small girls some 12 to 14 years earlier in rural Georgia, to travel and sing with a band. Now, in LA with another young daughter about 12, she decides to go back to Georgia and try to make things right. A very difficult task.SPOILERS. Her real life husband Kevin Bacon plays the rock star that she ran off with, he gets killed at the beginning in a car accident, this is the spark to head back home. She is not well received by the townspeople nor her teen daughters, one which has become a fanatic Christian and the other runs around with guys all night. But Delia's abusive husband (Aidan Quinn) is very sick, dying, she moves into his house and has the daughters join them, the husband dies, Delia makes the first steps at reconciliation with her daughters as the movie ends.Sherilyn Fenn adds a bit of joy and a few smiles as old friend M.T. who now is a mechanic. Old Brit Jackie Burroughs, looking a lot like Lyle Lovett, plays the mean old Grandma Windsor who had been keeping Delia's daughters and had turned them against mom.

I was engaged by the movie. Thought the plot was believable enough, the direction good and the acting superior. One of my favorite sleeper films. Also the title song has remained with me, many months later.I thought the film dealt well with a number of real human situations involving sibling rivalry, sickness and death, the contrast between rural and urban lifestyles, the breakup of the nuclear family, etc. And I wound up caring about all of the main characters. I don't ask much more of a movie.It does have an indy feel to it, but I thought that added to the charm. I would definitely add it to my library and watch it every now and then.

I don't really understand why this is so lowly rated as of the time of my review. This is a serious drama, competently directed and believably acted by all. The story held my interest and the wonderful Kyra Sedgwick delivered another good performance. As is usual for me, I haven't read the book and knew very little about the story before watching. Unusual for me, I watched it despite the low rating here and I am glad I did. I am sure the character played by Kyra Sedgwick couldn't be farther from who she really is but she sure knew what she wanted to do with this part.If you want comedy or action, other films should be considered. If want to think about life, love, parenthood, and dying, this one should hold your interest.Chris

I watched the Cavedweller at first after channel surfing with mild interest.Soon the plot captured my attention and became riveting. As a former victim of severe domestic violence (ex now in prison for molesting our son as well) I know what a struggle this woman overcame for the love of her daughters. Like her I had to come to the realization that I would have been killed by my ex husband, as well as my only child if I had stayed and had no other family or support to run to. I commend this character's courage and only wonder if I would have done the same. As the movie essay says the performance of the female cast is very powerful, but I must include that Aiden Quinn also did a spectacular job in this, portraying someone completely against his normal characters. Well Done!