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 (as Carrie Anne Moss)
Julia Roberts	...	Lisa Taylor
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Addison
Hayden Panettiere	...	Young Jane Lawrence
Shannon Lucio	...	Ryne Taylor
Cayden Boyd	...	Young Michael Taylor
George Newbern	...	Jimmy Lawrence (as George Newburn)
Chase Ellison	...	Christopher Lawrence
Brooklynn Proulx	...	Leslie Lawrence
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 to the point when the thin thread keeping them as a family threatens to break, and there's a fight. During Michael's trip home, there's an unexpected death which prolongs his stay and brings to the light his relationship with his father, his aunt, and her young children. Michael's estranged wife joins them for the funeral.

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Plot Keywords:

cheating wife | girl in panties | panties | aunt | author | 

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Taglines:

Having a son is not the same as being a father.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Michael: [sits down near Christopher on the roof] I love what you've done with the room.
[lights a cigarette]
Michael: I used to come out here a lot when I was grounded.
Christopher: [sniffing because he was crying] Mom told me you were always getting in trouble.
Michael: She should talk.
Christopher: [crossly] What's that supposed to mean?
Michael: Before your mother was a mom, she was my best friend.
Christopher: [sarcastically] You guys have tea parties together?
Michael: Yeah, occasionally. Your mother taught me everything I shouldn't know, smartass.
Christopher: Like how to write like a chick?
[...]

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Connections

References Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked (2006)

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Soundtracks

Best Laid Plans
Performed by Mark Stoney
Written by Mark Stoney
Courtesy of Sonic Roar Records

User Reviews

a pleasant surprise

I watched this movie on DVD and I confess that I rented reluctantly this movie. However, I had a pleasant surprise, the story is about a boy who in his adult version is played by Ryan Reynolds with serious relationship problems with his father (William Dafoe). I am really surprise with Ryan Reynolds performance, also the young Michael with play Cayden Boyd. The whole story in one way or another turn around the problem of relationship between both. The movie uses well the flashback resource to show the problems of this family and especially the problems between Michael and his father. Naturally, there are good interpretations of the rest of the cast especially for Emily Watson(Michael's Aunt). A movie that really is worth watching.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 July 2008 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Fireflies in the Garden

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,884, 16 October 2011

Gross USA:

$70,600

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,692,182

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kulture Machine, Senator Entertainment Co

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1