Avalon (1990) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Avalon is set primarily in Baltimore, Maryland. The film follows the Krichinsky family as they move from a tightly-knit inner-city Jewish neighborhood to the suburbs, reflecting the broader postwar American suburban expansion.

• baltimore
• maryland
• setting
• immigrant neighborhood
• suburbs

The film is set in the late 1940s through the early 1950s, during the immediate postwar era. This period marks suburban expansion, the rise of consumer culture, and the introduction of television into American homes.

• 1940s
• 1950s
• postwar era
• american history
• suburban expansion

Avalon explores three interconnected themes: family loyalty and resilience across generations, the immigrant experience of assimilation and identity shift, and the impact of modern life through technology and consumer culture on family dynamics.

• family
• assimilation
• immigration
• modern life
• identity
• tradition

Sam Krichinsky is the patriarch of the Krichinsky family and a Polish Jewish immigrant who built a wallpaper business in Baltimore. He is practical, protective, and deeply rooted in tradition, serving as the anchor for his family through postwar changes.

• sam krichinsky
• patriarch
• immigrant
• wallpaper business
• baltimore

Eva Krichinsky is Sam's mother-in-law, a strong-willed woman who dominates the household and embodies the older generation's insistence on tradition. Her clashes with younger family members create tension while also driving moments of humor and reconciliation.

• eva krichinsky
• tradition
• mother-in-law
• generation conflict
• household

Jules Krichinsky is Sam and Eva's son who dreams of achieving greater business success. He plans to open a large discount-appliance store with his cousin Izzy, potentially even appearing in television commercials, representing the younger generation's drive to modernize and capitalize on postwar prosperity.

• jules krichinsky
• business
• ambition
• modernization
• postwar prosperity

Ann Krichinsky is Jules's wife, representing the modern American woman navigating a changing household. She learns to drive and negotiates the expectations of her mother-in-law and husband, reflecting the evolving role of women in postwar America.

• ann krichinsky
• woman role
• driving
• postwar america
• household dynamics

Avalon examines how Polish Jewish immigrants navigate American identity, with characters like Jules and Izzy changing their names as they pursue career paths. The film shows how tradition and modern ambitions intersect, shaping each character's sense of belonging in a new country.

• assimilation
• jewish immigrants
• name changes
• american identity
• cultural shift

The advent of television and consumer culture becomes a catalyst for new dreams and social dynamics within the family. Jules and Izzy's business ambitions involving discount appliances and potential TV commercials illustrate how technology reshapes family aspirations and daily life in postwar America.

• television
• consumer culture
• appliances
• business dreams
• postwar america

Michael Krichinsky is Sam and Eva's grandson who represents the next generation experiencing the shifts between old-world traditions and new American possibilities. His experiences highlight intergenerational differences while demonstrating the family's enduring bond.

• michael krichinsky
• grandson
• next generation
• tradition
• american identity

Avalon has a bittersweet tone, where the family's gains in the new world are consistently tempered by a sense of loss for their old-world culture and identity. The film balances serious events like a holdup and fire with everyday domestic life and moments of humor.

• bittersweet tone
• emotional tone
• family drama
• immigrant experience

Izzy is Jules's cousin and business partner who shares the dream of a big, modern venture. He helps push the family toward new opportunities, including a potential television presence, embodying the collaborative, entrepreneurial spirit fueling postwar ambition.

• izzy
• business partner
• entrepreneur
• cousin
• jules

The Krichinsky family's move from inner-city Baltimore to the suburbs reflects the broader postwar American trend of suburban expansion. This transition represents their aspiration for a better life and greater opportunity, while also creating new challenges in balancing tradition with the pursuit of the American dream.

• suburbs
• suburban expansion
• migration
• american dream
• postwar america