Housekeeping (film)

Housekeeping is a 1987 American comedy drama film written and directed by Bill Forsyth, starring Christine Lahti, Sara Walker, and Andrea Burchill. Based on Marilynne Robinson's 1980 novel of the same name, the film follows two sisters in 1950s Idaho who, after their mother's suicide, are raised by their eccentric drifter aunt. The film explores themes of family, belonging, and the conflict between individuality and conformity in a small, judgmental community.

Housekeeping marked Scottish director Forsyth's first American feature film, produced by Columbia Pictures. The film was shot on location mainly in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, in late 1986.

The film was released theatrically in the United States on November 25, 1987, and received favorable reviews from critics despite underperforming at the box office. Forsyth won two awards for the film at the 1987 Tokyo International Film Festival, while Lahti earned a New York Film Critics Circle award nomination for Best Actress for her performance. Despite its limited availability in the home media market, Housekeeping went on to develop a cult following in the years since its original release.