danielmartinx Great film, great story, great setting and cast.Ellen Burstyn, though, deserves a few words. She gives line readings like no other actress, or perhaps like other actresses: Myrna Loy, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, or many of the early film greats. Burstyn puts a strong American twang into her pronunciation, and she makes acting decisions that surprise and breath life into many scenes that would otherwise be flat.How much of this is direction? How much is her own artistry? Hard to say. Burstyn's career took place through the 60s and into the 80s, a time when film was moving out of the studios and into the world. The gritty film world of the 70s had little room for grace and beauty and finesse, but Burstyn brings a beautiful glamorous charm to her roles. As Edna, she truly inhabits that character and turns in a mindblowingly good performance. I recommend this film to anyone who is fond of supernatural films, 70s film, 70s horror, or quirky stories.

atrac I'd just like to comment on one aspect of this movie: the ending. I've seen a ton of films in my life (37 years at this point), and I have to say that hands down the ending of this film is one of the best I have ever seen. It is SO subtle and non-pretentious that it's almost staggering. I have no doubt that in this day and age (2007) the ending would have been trashed in favor of something much BIGGER. I applaud EVERYONE involved for creating a bookend that has haunted me to this day (I am emotional just thinking about it).If there is ever a well publicized list of the best movie endings ever, I certainly hope this film is on it. It is definitely on mine.

dognos-1 and still to this date, tear up at times throughout the movie. Ms. Burstyn gave an excellent performance and as said by another reviewer, the last seen is worth the complete movie. I had my husband watch it for the first time just now with me and he was equally impressed. It has withheld the test of time.I would like to find this movie on VHS or DVD for my library and hope it will never be remade as so many movies are done these days. No one could meet or match the quality of the performances given here and the simplicity of the style of the movie. I am not saying the movie was simple, it was well presented.

Isaac5855 And that's saying a lot since I adore Ellen Burstyn and her work but I was deeply moved by her extraordinary performance in 1981's Resurrection, based on the true story of Edna Mae McCauley, a woman who gets into a horrific car accident which she barely survives (a journey which includes an out of body experience to the white light), but upon her return to the living, she is shocked to discover she has the ability to heal people with terminal illnesses and handicaps. Burstyn manages to imbue Edna with this lovely humanity which never allows her to exploit or take advantage of her special gift. Burstyn is so special in this film, she gives the character so much heart and makes her achingly real, despite her special gift. There is one amazing scene, which is burned in my memory forever, where she heals someone of a disfiguring illness and allows the illness to enter her own body and temporarily inhabit her own body. Burstyn commits so completely to this scene and it's harrowing to watch. Resurrection is a very special movie experience.