East of Eden

East of Eden is a well-acted psychological family drama about jealousy, love and moral values.

This update of the Cain and Abel story is set on a farm in northern California around the time of the First World War. The God-fearing widower Adam Trask has twin sons, the dutiful Aron and the rebellious, hypersensitive Cal, who both compete for their father's love. When Aron starts going out with the sweet Abra, she too becomes part of the bitter rivalry.

Cal discovers that their mother is not dead but runs a brothel in the neighbouring town, and he first extorts money from her in a desperate attempt to buy his father's love. When that fails, he uses his knowledge of their mother's sinful life to bring his upright brother down.

East of Eden is quite moving, even if it shows its age; the film's moral questions, for example, are not terribly relevant today.