Angsty Canadian film FTW!

[rosiespark]

I've just watched Flower and Garnet as part of my compulsion to watch everything that Callum Keith Rennie has even been in. Which means that yes, I've watched a couple of stinkers. This wasn't one of them.

It made my chest ache, and I had my fingers pressed against my mouth for at least half of it. I was almost completely unspoiled, for which I'm thankful! Callum was wonderful as the children's dad - he did a great job of portraying a character you could feel for without making him too sympathetic, which would have been a cheap shot and I think would have undermined the terrible effects of his own emotional isolation on his son. And Colin Roberts deserves a special mention for his role as Garnet. The despair and helplessness of a neglected eight-year old who picks up many more of the undercurrents than anyone around him realises - he was heartbreaking.

I loved that I really couldn't predict what was going to happen. I had a real fear that Garnet was either going to shoot himself again, but fatally this time, or that he was going to kill his father. I cried when Ed said "I'm sorry" and finally hugged his son. And then I smiled through my tears at the ending: understated but cautiously hopeful, and all the more powerful for its restraint.

I'm very very glad I watched it.

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you for recommending this! I carefully didn't read your spoilery comments.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

If you're ever going to watch it, then avoiding spoilers is a must. Though I would like to watch it again just for the great performances by everyone. Something non-spoilery from the spoiler-cut bit - I cried. And it's not often a film makes me do that!

It really should be more widely watched. ::plots evilly::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's now on my list!

I cried through "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" too. Especially at the heroic bits.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

It's now on my list!

::carries on plotting::

I'm not sure when Elizabeth:TGA will get here but it's definitely on my list!

Spoilery!!!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

PS Don't read the comments below this one. Not till you've watched the film, anyway. :)

Re: Spoilery!!!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay. I avert my eyes. Thanks for the warning.

Re: Spoilery!!!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

But DO read my next post. ;)

[meresy.livejournal.com]

OMG, yes. That movie is one of my favourites, even though it makes me cry like a tiny baby. *woe* D:

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

*Woe* indeed. But the ending was hopeful. I hate to think what a wreck I would have been if it had ended in any of the awful ways I was dreading. I really thought Callum's character was doomed. Because, you know, it's Callum and he always dies. Except when he doesn't. *g*