DVD TITLE: WAR FLOWERS
REVIEWED BY: CINEMA LATTE
GRADE: 3 OUT OF 5 REELS
UPC: 818768010502
RELEASE DATE: JULY 30, 2013
DISC INFORMATION: 1 disc, color, widescreen
RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes
SPECIAL FEAUTURES: Theatrical trailer and behind the scenes featurette
RATED: PG-13 for war violence and scene of sexual menace
GENRE: Drama/War
STARRING: Christina Ricci, Jason Gedrick, Brian Balzerini, Tom Berenger, Jordan Brun, and Scott Michael Campbell
Sarah and her daughter, Melody, struggle to survive in a war torn Southern country-side during the Civil War. As the battle wages around them, Sarah struggles to make ends meet on their tiny piece of land, all the time hoping for the safe return of her Confederate officer husband, John Ellis. When the fighting arrives just outside of their door, Sarah and Melody come face to face with the horrors of war. When a wounded union soldier is left behind, Sarah tends his wounds and nurses him back to health instead of turning him in. The dangers of the war, harboring a war criminal, and renegades and criminals taking advantage of people all take their toll on Sarah and her family. Will this war claim her soul, too?
This is a very choppy tale about a single woman trying to raise a daughter among a war-ravaged land and all the time never knowing if her husband will return from the war or not. The relationships are rushed along through the editing room and make the story very short in places. The cast is good and this plays more like a made for television movie than a theatrical release.
The brutality of war is kept to a minimum except for when the renegades come through and terrorize the family. There is a twist that you do not see coming and an entertaining tale from both North and South. Although some areas are very choppy and should have been left to flesh out more, it is still an enjoyable movie.
Filled with spirit, faith, and belief in higher power; this movie tries to bring optimism from the heart of battle. The camera work is absolutely stunning with landscapes and beautifully framed shots. The editing is odd in places to go along with the choppy story.
A good “Lifetime-esque” movie for a weekend viewing. A good story, although cut up so that it isn’t smoothly told. This is an entertaining story and a good role for Ricci to stretch her skills out.
That’s my review and I’m sticking to it.