The Cider House Rules 1999

 One mistake does not justify another.

I may not be the right person to discuss this. In fact, I know that there are people out there that are far better informed than I am on this subject. Though I don't think that precludes me from the conversation.
At first glance The Cider House Rules seems as if it may bring together its varied approaches to the concepts housed in the phrase “Freedom of Choice”. At least the film seems to valiantly attempt to open an avenue of dialogue. However, It eventually stumbles as most of its peers do in trying to grapple with the idea of true freedom.
What is freedom and how do we attain it? Questions as deep as the ocean. their answers would take far more time and space then we have here. At any rate, I think it will suffice to say that The Cider House Rules, misinterprets the idea of freedom as the abolishment of rules for the betterment of society. Freedom however, does not come from a lack of constraint. It comes from a desire to be a fully integrated human being . That integration comes from being who we are meant to be, a son or daughter of God. Oops, I played my hand. Though It is a valid hand in this case.
The titular Cider house rules are mocked throughout the film, as constraints put on the orchard workers by individuals who have no knowledge of the lives of the workers or their living situation. While this may be narratively true, it also suggests a thematic truth. A truth that is anything but true.
We are meant to be fully realized human beings. Yes, we will have to face the pains and the struggles of life, that though is a truth inherent in being alive. It is a reality that cannot be negated. Christianity does not reject that reality, in fact, it embraces it, with all its sorrows. Rules in this religious context are not meant to be cages, instead they are meant to be reminders of who we are as dignified children of God. A God who came to earth. He shared in its life and death, with everything in between, other than sin. This may come across as trite. I know. A missed comprehension of the human experience, though I do not think so. God came to earth as an example of human perfection. This perfection, however, does not mean he does not understand our pain. In fact, it means that he understands it all the more. He understands it perfectly, because he knows for certain that he did not cause that pain. However, he is willing to join in that pain because it is real and concrete.

One mistake does not justify another.

I do not want to cheapen somebody's experiences. I also believe that the Cider House Rules as a film, does not want to cheapen those experiences either. Though in exploring the ideas of freedom and compassion, as this film does, it ultimately forgets both of those realities. Exploring instead, a world where mistakes become disasters, and compassion becomes a vehicle for the destruction of human life psychologically and physically.

As a follow-up, I just want to say that I do not endorse any of the events that occur in this film. On a moral and psychological level, I think the Cider House Rules misfires extremely. Though in a way we need conversations brought on by films like this, in order to begin discussions of real healing and forgiveness.