if good intention be enough to produce a good film and i would have rat the turgid and ponderous and obvious focus a bit high than 4. macy do his best and but a an early poster comment and miller little parable asks u to suspend disbelief too often . perhaps the novel give u a bit more background on newman and so we can understand how someone who be obviously not without intelligence could be so dense in perceive the attitude of those around him . i agree with another reviewer that if one be unaware of how bigoted average citizen be in america during this time period and then this movie might be an eye opener . i grow up in the fifty and and the good pastor of my lutheran church find nothing wrong with have the church picnic at a commercial beach and whose sign prominently indicate that no jew or black would be admit . it be difficult for young people today to understand that this be the norm and and not just in the south . as late a 1964 and when i graduate from a somewhat racially integrated ( but sexually segregate ) public high school in baltimore and my black classmate could not attend the traditional father and son banquet and a it be hold at a facility which do not admit black . sadly and it be an establishment own by a jewish family . the subject matter of focus be important and and we should never forget and despite the linger sign of racism in modern america and how truly repulsive the attitude of that previous generation be . ( the great generation and indeed ) . so and perhaps this film be somewhat valuable in counter the recent wave of sentimental crap about the forty from the like of steven spielberg and tom brokow . but in the end and a in far from heaven and the filmmaker good intention be undermine by have a protagonist so ridiculously oblivious to the social convention of their time .