War Flowers (2012)

North Carolina 1863, the Civil War is raging. In this inspired story of tragedy and love we follow the lives of Melody, a precocious seven-year old, and her young mother Sarabeth as they struggle on their farm to survive the war.

Director:

Serge Rodnunsky

Writer:

Serge Rodnunsky

Stars:

Christina Ricci, Jason Gedrick, Gabrielle Popa

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Christina Ricci	...	Sarabeth Ellis
Jason Gedrick	...	Louis McIntire
Gabrielle Popa	...	Melody Ellis
Tom Berenger	...	Gen. McIntire
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Balzerini	...	Private Perry
The Bourbon County Minstrels	...	Themselves
Jordan Brun	...	Maj. Collins
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Tim
My-Ishia Cason-Brown	...	War Refugee
Cole Corey	...	Soldier Wallace
Jason Echols	...	Malcolm
Bren Foster	...	John Ellis
Liotta Gabriel	...	Jeremy
Julian Gant	...	Lester
Nesti Gee	...	Soldier

Storyline

It is 1863, and the American Civil War is raging. With her husband, John, away fighting with the Confederacy, and their baby lost to scarlet fever, Sarah Ellis, and their precocious daughter Melody, struggle to survive on their family farm, save for Melody's extraordinary good sense and fortitude. When Melody finds a wounded Union soldier in their basement, Sarah and the soldier forge an unlikely bond, a bond that just might help Sarah and Melody find peace enough to move forward after the War.

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Plot Keywords:

civil war | father daughter relationship | mother daughter relationship | usa | 

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Taglines:

On the battlefield they will become heroes.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war violence and a scene of sexual menace

Did You Know?

Goofs

When McIntire is captured by Union soldiers on his return, his jacket shows no sign of the bullet hole where he was shot nor of any damage to the jacket.

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Soundtracks

Abide with Me
(uncredited)
Music by William H. Monk and lyrics by Henry F. Lyte
Sung by Melody (Gabrielle Popa) and Sarabeth (Christina Ricci)

User Reviews

Low-budget, but really good story with an impressive cast and convincing acting

During the second half of the Civil War, a mother (Christina Ricci) and her precocious daughter await the return of their husband/father at their farmhouse in North Carolina. Meanwhile they have to fend with a local ne'erdowell, skirmishes, a questionable Confederate patrol and a wounded Union soldier found in their basement (Jason Gedrick). Tom Berenger has a peripheral role as a Union general.

Written & directed by Serge Rodnunsky, "War Flowers" (2012) is an Indie that some have criticized as having a student film vibe with some help from (very convincing) Civil War re-enacters. It's shot kinda stagily and edited using dissolves for many cuts. Meanwhile a few shots don't match each other colorwise.

These technical criticisms are valid due to an obvious low-budget, which reportedly cost $5 million with the bulk of it spent on the impressive cast and Civil War Reenactors, BUT the film does work on the most important level, that of storytelling. My wife & I saw it separately and we both enjoyed it: The story pulls you in and maintains your interest until the end with convincing acting by the principles. It's vital that a film like this have human interest (otherwise it's a lost cause) and it scores well in this area.

The movie runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in Michigan.

GRADE: B-/B

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fighting to Forgive

Filming Locations:

Michigan, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Interlight Entertainment, Northstar Partners, Tri Vision Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 98 min

Color:

Color