Greendale (2003)

A musical look at the lives and struggles of people in the small fictional town called Greendale.

Director:

Neil Young (as Bernard Shakey)

Writer:

Neil Young

Stars:

Sarah White, Eric Johnson, Ben Keith

Cast

Credited cast:
Sarah White	...	Sun Green
Eric Johnson	...	Jed Green / Devil
Ben Keith	...	Grandpa Green
Erik Markegard	...	Earth Brown
Elizabeth Keith	...	Grandma Green
Pegi Young	...	Edith Green
James Mazzeo	...	Earl Green
Paul Supplee	...	Officer Carmichael
Sydney Stephan	...	Widow
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adam Donkin	...	Imitator (as Echobrain)
Dylan Donkin	...	Imitator (as Echobrain)
Brian Sagrafena	...	Imitator (as Echobrain)
Neil Young	...	Wayne Newton (as Bernard Shakey)

Storyline

Exploring the lives and struggles of a varied group of people in a small, rural California town, Greendale focuses in on the Green family. From Grandpa sitting on the front porch commenting on the state of the world, to his struggling artist son Earl Green, to Sun Green, Earl's vibrant, free-spirited daughter, daily existence in Greendale seems idealistically perfect and trouble-free, at first. This uneventful lifestyle is proven to be more intricate than first glaces would indicate, when Cousin Jed shoots and kills a police officer, sparking a chain of events that change the lives of those around him in both simple and profound ways.

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Plot Keywords:

rural setting | low budget film | kitchen | flashback | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Musical | Drama

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Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Broken Flowers (2005)

User Reviews

Still in awe

Neil Young's music is deceptively simple. At first there doesn't seem to be a lot going on...however in the end you'd be hard pressed to find more powerful or meaningful songwriting. If you agree with this statement, then there is a good bet that you will enjoy this film. If not...well you might wanna steer clear. I've seen a lot of negative comments on this film, and I guess it can be said that it is either a movie that you will either love, or be confused and put off. I personally loved it. You don't have to be a fan of Young's to enjoy this, but it would sure help,as there is no spoken dialog whatsoever...the story is told exclusively through the songs on the album. It is a bit confusing at first, but as Neil wrote in the liner notes "Don't feel bad if you feel a little out of it...I mean I wrote it and I don't know what the hell is going on" The grainy film seemed annoying at first, but quickly fits the mood of the film. And admittedly the "lip syncing" of the dialog seems a bit corny at first, but that is something you get used to as well. What you are left with is a story beautiful in it's simplicity. Can I explain why? I'm not sure...I found myself completly mesmerized by the film. The music never gets complicated, but is so damn addicting, I found myself bobbing my head througout the film. I had the album since it came out, but never fully appreciated it until I had the visual companion. Now the songs take on new meaning. It's hard to judge the cast since there isn't really any acting, but everyone plays their parts well. (I personally would like to see more of Sarah White) In the end, it's a simply shot movie about simple folk in a simple town, told entirely by "simple" songs...however like his albums, at the end of it all I was left sitting in awe at what I had just experienced.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 October 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Greendale: A Film by Neil Young

Filming Locations:

Pescadero, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,163, 29 February 2004

Gross USA:

$255,947

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$255,947

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shakey Pictures, Lookout Management

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1