Lahti is fabulous!

Diane Keaton would have been wonderful in this role but as the fates would have it, she passed it up and the role went fortuitously to Christine Lahti. The character of Silvie was so close to my heart. She was me in so many ways. Like me, she didn't march to the beat of her own drummer, she marched to the beat of her own orchestra! She was a free spirit before it was en vogue. Those around her would have penalized her for exposing Ruthie to ideas that were outside the conventional box. Good for her. I cheered and cried in the final scene as they scurried across the railroad bridge, Silvie knowing the train schedule and that they would not be in danger. They were free! My heart was free!