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
Willem Dafoe	...	Charles
Emily Watson	...	Jane
Carrie-Anne Moss	...	Kelly (as Carrie Anne Moss)
Julia Roberts	...	Lisa
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Addison
Hayden Panettiere	...	Young Jane
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 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:

aunt | author | confusion | abusive father | alcoholism | 

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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

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 USA:

$36,884, 14 October 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,393,161, 3 November 2011

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,393,161, 3 November 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kulture Machine,Senator Entertainment Co

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds were to previously star in The Proposal, until Roberts dropped out due to salary demands.

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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

Jimmy: [to Michael] Gotta tell you my kids love it here. Christopher's in your old room and Leslie here is in Ryne's.
[turns to Leslie]
Jimmy: Say hello to your cousin.
Michael: [to Leslie, when she doesn't say anything] You're short.
Jimmy: [to Michael] Yeah guest room's upstairs, second door on the right, but I guess you know that because uh this is your home.
Leslie: Uncle Charlie said it's our home now.
Jimmy: You're right honey, it is our home now. But um, Michael grew up here so... it's his home, too.
Leslie: But it's our home.
Jimmy: [picks Leslie up]
[...]

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Connections

References Ergo Proxy (2006)

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Soundtracks

Greetings From The Side
Performed by Gary Jules
Written by Gary Jules
Courtesy of Down Up Down 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.