IMDb > White Oleander (2002)
White Oleander
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

White Oleander (2002) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 68 | slideshow) Videos (see all 5 NEW)
White Oleander (2002) -- HV post
White Oleander (2002) -- A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.
White Oleander (2002) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
White Oleander (2002) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)
White Oleander (2002) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   12,655 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 17% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Peter Kosminsky
Writers (WGA):
Janet Fitch (novel)
Mary Agnes Donoghue (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for White Oleander on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 October 2002 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Where does a mother end and a daughter begin?
Plot:
A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
3 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(25 articles)
10 Most Underrated Young Actors
 (From The Movie Fanatic. 12 October 2009, 7:54 PM, PDT)

10 Most Underrated Young Actors
 (From The Movie Fanatic. 12 October 2009, 7:54 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
light review of weighty material more (160 total)
US TV Schedule:
Thur. Nov. 1211:30 AMMAX   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Weißer Oleander (Germany)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements concerning dysfunctional relationships, drug content, language, sexuality and violence.
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
USA | Germany
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Company:
Gaylord Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Barbra Streisand was offered the chance to direct and play Ingrid. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Starr shoots Astrid by the window she gets shot in her right shoulder. When then have her on the gurney her left shoulder is injured. more
Quotes:
Paul: I get this feeling like... you're not interested in guys.
Astrid: You're right, I'm not.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Game K N B: (2006-11-29)" (2006) more
Soundtrack:
Plank Of Fire more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
37 out of 40 people found the following comment useful.
light review of weighty material, 14 October 2002
Author: Jess (jessied@yahoo.com) from New York, New York

The white oleander looks beautiful but its poison kills. Social service agencies take children from their abusive parents but place them in homes and institutions where violence reigns. Ingrid Magnussen (Michelle Pfeiffer) puts her daughter, Astrid (Alison Lohman), in the center of her artwork but pushes her to the perimeter of her reality. Life is a contradiction in which nothing is purely good or purely evil.

White Oleander is a story about life's contradictions and the complexities of control, power, loneliness, betrayal, loyalty, and love. Janet Fitch won rave reviews in 2000 for this novel; screenwriter Mary Agnes Donoghue did not match Fitch's brilliance, but turned a weighty narrative-both in terms of content and size-into an admirable film blueprint.

Director Peter Kosminsky and accomplished actresses Pfeiffer, Robin Wright Penn, Renée Zellweger, and newcomer Lohman used this blueprint to create a gripping film that both readers and nonreaders of the original text will appreciate.

Pfeiffer is as cool and controlling as she is stunning even in prison garb, and her mastery of personality subtleties deserves acclaim. Audiences will hate the character because she is too smart, too manipulative, and too real.

And anticipate an Oscar-worthy breakthrough performance from Lohman. She shines in her portrayal of a daughter who worships her mother until she realizes the superficial nature of her beauty and the cruelty of her heart. Ingrid Magnussen is not as perfect as she thinks, and her love is as poisonous as the white oleander.

Stereotypes cheapen some of the film's richness and choices made to avoid an `R' rating sap some of its strength, but overall the film is as compelling as its sad and truthful characters.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (160 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for White Oleander (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Line from book, sort of stupid, but driving me crazy TeamStrode
Funny story about this movie... canarygrl1
Book Recommendations? clownundermybedx
I know it's just fiction / movie, but... jcooper-15
Astrid as a Goth... BlueEyedSuicide
I'm so twisted, but... rdartigu
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Heavenly Creatures Titanic Across the Universe Catch Me If You Can The Night of the Hunter
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.