Welcome to the 1980s, a decade that is often remembered for its return to conservatism under the leadership of the Reagan administration. In addition to dealing with the effects of the rise of the New Right, the migration of people from the Rust Belt to the Sunbelt, and the ups and downs of “trickle-down” economics, folks in the 1980s still lived under the fears and anxieties of the Cold War and instability in the Middle East and elsewhere. Yet the 1980s also saw the birth of such cultural staples as CNN in 1980 and MTV in 1981, along with the rise of superstars such as Michael Jackson (as a solo artist) and Madonna. The movie industry thrived during this decade as studios churned out huge blockbusters like Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982), Back to the Future (1985), and Top Gun (1986)—which people could now enjoy at home on their VCRs.

E. T., the world’s most adorable alien.

One other notable aspect of the 1980s is what came to be called a “yuppie,” a college-educated baby boomer with a good job and a tendency to spend money. Yuppies were often seen as “self-centered,” “shallow,” and only focused on how much money they could make. Thus, consumerism and materialism also dominated the decade too. However, yuppies themselves, even with all their worldly goods, often questioned if they were really happy; and the 1980s became a time when a lot of younger people were “plagued with anxiety and self-doubt.”

And so we start off the decade of the 1980s this week with another film that delves into the human psyche and finds some pretty dark stuff there—some of which is the aforementioned materialism, anxiety, and self-doubt. Ordinary People (1980, Wildwood Enterprises Inc. Production; Paramount) gives us a glimpse into the lives of three very well-to-do members of a Midwestern family who are each trying to cope with the sudden death of their fourth member. Like Kramer vs. Kramer last week, Ordinary People makes us see the truth of what we don’t want to see in our family lives as it addresses issues such as grief, guilt, truth, and unconditional love.

Ordinary People’s Jarrett Family: Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, and Timothy Hutton.

Ordinary People faced some pretty stiff competition in 1980 from fellow Oscar nominees Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Elephant Man, The Empire Strikes Back, Fame, Raging Bull, and Tess. With only six nominations and four wins, Ordinary People was the most successful film on an Oscar night that was delayed 24 hours due to the assassination attempt on President Reagan. The film took home statuettes for Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium), Directing for Robert Redford (in his directorial debut), Actor in a Supporting Role for Timothy Hutton as Conrad Jarrett, and Best Picture. It did not win for Actor in a Supporting Role for Judd Hirsch as Dr. Berger or for Actress in a Leading Role for Mary Tyler Moore as Beth Jarrett.

Moore brilliantly plays a character very much unlike her typical comedic roles, but tragically similar to what her real-life situation would shortly become when her only son died unexpectedly at the age of 24 less than a year after filming wrapped on Ordinary People. The terrible irony of Moore’s loss amidst her success as an actress echoes the general situation of the 1980s discussed above—it was a time of prosperity, but not an era without pain and confusion and heartache. People may have had more stuff, but those material goods and/or successes did not necessarily guarantee ease or happiness.

For more thoughts on Ordinary People and its significance, please check out the full post this weekend!