Ithaca (2015)

My Review

“Ithaca” is a drama film set in World War II centered on 14-year-old Homer who is a telegram messenger in his home town. After losing his father, his older brother goes to fight in the war, leaving Homer to care for his mother and two younger siblings. Meg Ryan began her directorial career with this project, and her inexperience shows. The film is a bit sluggish and uneven, from a mediocre screenplay by Erik Jendresen. It was adapted from the 1943 novel “The Human Comedy” by William Saroyan.

The cast includes Alex Neustaedter, Meg Ryan, Jack Quaid (son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid), Sam Shepard, Hamish Linklater, Tom Hanks, Scott Shepherd, Gabriel Basso, and Molly Gordon. “Ithaca” is an independent production of Apple Lane Productions and Momentum Pictures, and was a flop at the box office. John Mellencamp was the composer of the musical score. It was filmed in Petersburg, Virginia.