Last July I did a post on the documentary A Man Named Pearl, and at point asked a question about what films there were about gardening. Leslie made the recommendation of Greenfingers, a Y2K British production starring Clive Owen and Helen Mirrin. Based loosely on a true story, it told of incarcerated gardeners in England that had a rehabilitation program involving gardening. In real life the prisoners eventually went on to design award winning garden exhibits at the Hampton Court and Chelsea Flower Shows.
My Netflix queue is pretty long, but by last week I’d worked through a few dozen films and the red envelope containing Greenfingers arrived in the mail. I won’t give away the end any more than I have–It’s based only loosely on the facts I’ve mentioned above. But if you haven’t seen it already it’s definitely a worthy movie rental–Warm, funny and romantic, it’s a great film for these long winter nights.
Now if only the film didn’t use so many plastic plants, including a red hibiscus that features prominently in the plot. We’re gardeners, people! We can tell!
Hi,
I have seen this movie. One of my favorite scenes is at the beginning of the movie. Helen Mirrin is a garden expert and she is at a forum. A woman asks her a question as she replies that she should just rip the plant out and throw it on the bonfire( or something like that) I had to laugh as many of the best gardeners can be quite unsentimental, much to other peoples horror.
That is a good gardening movie. If I can think of one, I will let you know.
Best,
Philip
James!
Co-incidentally I went home for lunch, and this movie was on. I forgot how touching it was.
Best regards,
Philip
My recommendation is not a gardening movie, but it has a wonderfull setting.
“My Father’s Glory” is one of my favorite films set in Provence in the turn of the century.
Best,
Philip
I mentioned your post in my blog:
http://minxterbloom.squarespace.com/journal/2009/1/13/gardening-video-pleasures.html
Enjoy.
Philip, Helen Mirrin definitely gets the best lines and is the liveliest character in the film–someone who doesn’t stand fools OR unruly plants! What a coincidence you found it for lunchtime viewing. Small world sometimes.
I looked up My Father’s Glory and it seems like something I’d be interesting in seeing. Onto the queue it goes!
Minx, thanks for the link, and thanks for pointing out Rosemary & Thyme in your post. I noticed it’s available on Netflix as well, so it’s onto my queue as well!
And Tina, I hope you like Greenfingers. The plot had a couple of interesting twists that were a nice surprise.
Too cool! I have never heard of this movie but will be on the look out for it.
It was a feel good film wasn’t it – but you know, I am going to have to watch it again to look for the the red hibiscus, somehow I missed that or maybe I just deleted it from my mind if it wasn’t real 🙂
K