The Cement Garden (1993)

Four children live with their terminally ill mother. After she dies, they try to hold things together. In their isolated house, they begin to deteriorate mentally, whilst they hide their mom's decomposing corpse in a makeshift concrete sarcophagus.

Director:

Andrew Birkin

Writers:

Andrew Birkin, Ian McEwan (novel)

Stars:

Charlotte Gainsbourg, Andrew Robertson, Alice Coulthard

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Andrew Robertson	...	Jack
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	Julie
Alice Coulthard	...	Sue
Ned Birkin	...	Tom
Sinéad Cusack	...	Mother
Hanns Zischler	...	Father
Jochen Horst	...	Derek, Julie's Friend
Gareth Brown	...	William
William Hootkins	...	Commander Hunt (voice)
Dick Flockhart	...	Truck Driver
Mike Clark	...	Driver's Mate

Storyline

After the death of her husband, the mother of Julie, Jack, Sue and Tom begins to suffer from an unidentified illness. Rather than going to hospital, and letting the authorities foster her children, she opens a bank account for them so they can be financially self-sufficient and will be able to avoid being taken into care by the authorities. After she dies, the 2 older siblings decide to hide her body in the basement. Soon they begin to suffer, both the emotional strains and pressures of their situation, as well as the changes which happen during adolescence.

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Plot Keywords:

brother sister incest | basement | corpse | brother sister sex | female stockinged legs | 

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Taglines:

Love knows no limits.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although she played a teenager, Charlotte Gainsbourg was 21 years old when this film was shot. Her age is not mentioned in the film, but the character is 17 in the book. Andrew Robertson was 18 playing a 14/15 years old.

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Goofs

Tom makes a joke about one candle on Jack's birthday cake before the scene with the cake and the one candle.

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Quotes

Julie: Girls can wear jeans and cut their hair short, wear shirts and boots, because it's OK to be a boy, but for a boy to look like a girl is degrading, because you think that being a girl is degrading. But secretly you'd love to know what it's like, wouldn't you? What it feels like for a girl?

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Connections

Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #10.2 (1997)

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Soundtracks

Poor Little Rich Girl
Jamestown
(P. Rabiger / Edward Shearmur / S. Monti)

User Reviews

Odd & gripping film about the brewing attraction between a brother and sister.

I have to admit the film is disturbing, and frank. The subject matter is dark, yet there are moments of honest humor. The performances by Charlotte Gainsburg and others are so impressive I became lost in their world. It's a world where a small family can exist surrounded by nothing but concrete and rubble. It is very troubling, and thought provoking... and the end is not one of hope nor hopelessness.. A very good film!

Details

Country:

France Germany UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 February 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cement Garden

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,410, 13 February 1994

Gross USA:

$322,975

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$322,975

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Constantin Film, Laurentic Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1