This dated snapshot of an American life is among the first few films made by Martin Scorsese. It is entertaining but also a drag at times. This is the story of Alice and her desire to find some peace and happiness as she moves from what is hinted as a troubled childhood to a clearly poor marriage to an even poorer early widowhood. At this stage she finally starts to pick up her life on her own with her irritating little son.

There aren’t any Scorsese touches in this film and considering his later work you might not realize it is his film. Ellen Burstyn as a scrappy Alice is both believable and utterly likeable. She seems to be Alice. Young Harvey Keitel and Kris Kristofferson play their parts nicely as well.

Watch it if you must see all Scorsese films or if an ordinary American life excites you.