Fireflies in the Garden (2008)

The Taylor family is devastated by an accident that takes place on the day their matriarch is due to graduate from college -- decades after leaving to raise her children.

Director:

Dennis Lee

Writers:

Robert Frost (poem), Dennis Lee

Stars:

Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Reynolds	...	Michael Taylor
Willem Dafoe	...	Charles Taylor
Emily Watson	...	Jane Lawrence
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Kelly Hanson (as Carrie Anne Moss)
Julia Roberts	...	Lisa Taylor
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Addison Wesley
Hayden Panettiere	...	Young Jane Lawrence
Shannon Lucio	...	Ryne
Cayden Boyd	...	Young Michael
George Newbern	...	Jimmy (as George Newburn)
Chase Ellison	...	Christopher
Brooklynn Proulx	...	Leslie
Diane Perella	...	Flight Attendant
Natalie Karp	...	Social Worker
John C. Stennfeld	...	Reverend Byers (as Reverend John Stennfeld)

Storyline

A family with an abusive father, a sensitive son, and a mother out of her depth: we see them when Michael is about 12 and when he's in his 30's, a writer of romance novels, going home for his mother and sister's college graduations. We go back and forth between the two periods: when Michael is a boy, the pressure builds until a break is threatened and there's a fight; during his trip home, there's an unexpected death, and renewed relationships between father and son, Michael and his aunt, and Michael and his aunt's young children. Michael's estranged wife joins them for the funeral.

---

Plot Keywords:

aunt | abusive father | windshield | spilling wine | walking on roof | 

---

Taglines:

For one family, a chance to start again...

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 July 2008 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Luciérnagas en el jardín

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$36,884 (USA) (14 October 2011)

Gross:

$36,884 (USA) (14 October 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kulture Machine, Senator Entertainment Co

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 99 min (theatrical) 120 min 94 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Dennis Lee, the first person who read the script was Carrie-Anne Moss.

---

Goofs

When Kelly first appears walking into the house after the funeral, the boom mic is visibly above the doorway.

---

Connections

References Ergo Proxy (2006)

---

Soundtracks

"Walk Through This World With Me"
Written by Sandra Seamons, Kay Savage
Published by Glad Music and Pappy Daily Music

User Reviews

It Could Have Been Great

I agree with Raj Doctor, although I would rate the film higher.

The film was released in Russia with little publicity and became lost in the summer blockbusters. Without revealing information, the acting is excellent. The story is very indeed very realistic. If you find realism boring, then this is not a film for you.

The final third of the film, however, is missing. I have read that at the Berlin Film Festival, where the film premiered, it was announced to be 2 hours long, but the version in Russia is missing 20 minutes. Because the ending felt rushed while the rest of it was very well controlled, I cannot help but believe that this time was taken out of the final act. It's a shame really, because it could have been a great film. As it is, it is still a very good film that I recommend for the patient viewer.