War Flowers (2012-08-31)

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Christina Ricci

Sarabeth Ellis

Tom Berenger

General McIntire

Jason Gedrick

Louis McIntire

Jordan Brun

Major Collins

Cole Corey

Soldier Wallace

Scott Michael Campbell

Tim

Michael Justice

Freddie

Gabrielle Popa

Melody Ellis

Ross Wyngaarden

Soldier Matthew

Tevis R. Marcum

Sargeant

Jason Ishmael Echols

Malcolm

Bren Foster

John Ellis

Wuchak

_**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