A Walk on the Moon

A Walk on the Moon is a 1999 Australian-American drama film starring Diane Lane, Viggo Mortensen, Liev Schreiber and Anna Paquin. A middle class Jewish family experiences an upheaval while vacationing in the Catskills during the summer of 1969.

Written by Pamela Gray. Directed by Tony Goldwyn.

Dialogue

 * [Marty is driving his family on vacation, mom beside him in front, granny & kids in back; they're singing the Name Game: "Shirley Shirley bo-Birly, Bonana Fana fo-Firley" etc.]
 * Daniel Kantrowitz: Let's do "Chuck".
 * Marty Kantrowitz: No "Chuck". We don't do "Chuck".
 * Daniel Kantrowitz: You never let me do "Chuck".
 * Marty Kantrowitz: When you're married you can do "Chuck".
 * [mom raps dad in the arm, smiling]


 * Marty Kantrowitz: Who is he?
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: You don't know him.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Well what's his name?
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: Walker.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: What's his FIRST name?
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: That IS his first name.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Well then what's his last name?
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: Jerome.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Walker Jerome. Does he realize it's backwards? What's he do?
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: He's a salesman.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: [laughs] A salesman, that's great. What does he sell?
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: Blouses.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Blouses?
 * [pauses, then looks shocked]
 * Marty Kantrowitz: He's the blouseman. You're screwing the blouseman. Jesus, Pearl, why not screw the dressman? At least then you'd get a whole outfit.


 * Alison Kantrowitz: I never have to listen to you ever again. I saw you. I was there. You should have seen yourself. You looked disgusting! I'm the teenager! Not you! You had your chance.
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: No. I didn't.
 * Alison Kantrowitz: Well then why do the rest of us have to suffer just because you fucked up your life!


 * Lilian Kantrowitz: Do you remember when you were a little boy and you wanted to go swimming with your cousin?
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Yeah - you didn't wanna let me go because...
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: Because I knew something terrible was going to happen. I knew your cousin was gonna drown.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Yeah, but nothing terrible happened, Ma.
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: And why is that?
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Because I was careful.
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: No. Why did nothing terrible happen?
 * Marty Kantrowitz: We were extra careful because you told me.
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: And your cousin wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for me.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: What's goin' on, Ma? Who's gonna drown?
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: [pause] You are.


 * Lilian Kantrowitz: What is it, my shainehkuh, huh? What is it my darling?
 * [Lilian sees Alison has got her first period]
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: Oh, my God. Mazel tov!
 * [Lilian slaps Alison]
 * Alison Kantrowitz: Why'd you hit me?
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: It's a tradition. My mother, your great-grandmother, Sonia - may she rest in peace - she did the same thing to me.
 * Alison Kantrowitz: It's a stupid tradition.
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: It's the stupidest goddamn tradition. It's true. You know what I did? I slapped her right back.
 * [Alison slaps Lilian back]
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: Ow! Bandeet!
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: What's going on in here?
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: Pearl...
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: What?
 * Lilian Kantrowitz: I got news. Today Alison became a woman.


 * Lilian Kantrowitz: You see, my shainehkuh. You become a woman, the world looks brighter.
 * Alison Kantrowitz: Don't tell Daddy I got my period.
 * P.A. Announcer: Long-distance telephone call for Alison Kantrowitz. It's your father! You're a woman now, Alison. Mazel tov, darling. And may you be blessed with a happy marriage and many, many beautiful children.
 * [Alison, mortified, runs off]


 * Pearl Kantrowitz: I went to Woodstock.
 * Marty Kantrowitz: You went to Woodstock.
 * Pearl Kantrowitz: Ummm...
 * Marty Kantrowitz: Was it groovy?

Cast

 * Diane Lane as Pearl Kantrowitz
 * Viggo Mortensen as Walker Jerome
 * Liev Schreiber as Marty Kantrowitz
 * Anna Paquin as Alison Kantrowitz
 * Tovah Feldshuh as Lilian Kantrowitz
 * Bobby Boriello as Daniel Kantrowitz
 * Lisa Jakub as Myra Naidell
 * Joe Perrino as Ross Epstein