The Sorrows of Gin 1979
Jack Hofsiss's *The Sorrows of Gin* (1979) drills into the quiet desperation of an affluent suburban household through the unblinking gaze of its eight-year-old daughter, who watches her parents drown their emptiness in gin.
Director: Jack Hofsiss
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Sorrows of Gin (1979) about?
This drama follows the sobering reality behind the polished façade of an affluent suburban family, told from the perspective of their eight-year-old daughter. As her parents' hollow existence unfolds in a haze of alcohol and emotional distance, she navigates loneliness and confusion in a world that refuses to see her pain.
Who directed The Sorrows of Gin?
The film was directed by Jack Hofsiss, whose precise visual style and focus on character dynamics brought depth to this intimate TV drama.
Who stars in The Sorrows of Gin?
Sigourney Weaver, Edward Herrmann, John Harkins, Eileen Heckart, and Baxter Harris headline the cast, delivering performances that peel back the layers of their complicated relationships.
Is The Sorrows of Gin (1979) worth watching?
Though it's an unrated TV movie, its sharp character studies and themes of familial neglect make it a compelling watch for fans of slow-burn dramas. The performances by Weaver and Herrmann elevate the material, offering a glimpse into the fractures beneath suburban perfection.
How long is The Sorrows of Gin?
The Sorrows of Gin runs for 60 minutes.
About The Sorrows of Gin (1979) — A Child's-Eye View of Gilded Lives Unraveling
Jack Hofsiss's *The Sorrows of Gin* (1979) drills into the quiet desperation of an affluent suburban household through the unblinking gaze of its eight-year-old daughter, who watches her parents drown their emptiness in gin. The film unfolds like a muted nightmare, where the glittering surfaces of cocktail parties and manicured lawns crack under the weight of unresolved longing and simmering resentment. Sigourney Weaver and Edward Herrmann deliver performances steeped in restraint, embodying characters whose polished exteriors barely conceal the fractures beneath. With its TV-movie format and dramatic focus, *The Sorrows of Gin* feels like a distilled chamber piece—intimate, unsettling, and quietly devastating.
Shot through with themes of neglect, identity, and the illusion of perfection, the story lingers on moments of raw emotional exposure rather than sweeping drama. The tone is one of creeping unease, as the child's perspective strips away the artifice of adulthood to reveal the sorrows hidden in plain sight. Fans of character-driven dramas and moody social commentary will find its quiet intensity haunting long after the credits roll.