Raising Arizona
dir. Joel Coen · 1987
The desire for family can lead people to make unexpected choices that complicate their lives.
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Comedic / Whimsical
Look
vibrant color palette with exaggerated compositions
Structure
episodic with a series of escalating misadventures
Plot
When a childless couple—an ex-con and an ex-cop—take one of a wealthy family’s quintuplets to raise as their own, their lives grow more complicated than anticipated.
Why watch
"Raising Arizona" is a wild romp through the absurdity of parenthood, as a quirky couple embarks on a chaotic journey to raise a stolen quintuplet. With a blend of slapstick humor and heartfelt moments, this film invites viewers to embrace the beautifully bizarre in the pursuit of family.
Cultural context
1980s American suburban lifeburgeoning indie film movementcritique of the nuclear family ideal