Flower & Garnet

Flower & Garnet is a Canadian drama film released in 2002. The film was directed and written by Keith Behrman and features Callum Keith Rennie, Jane McGregor, and Alisha Penev in the lead roles.

The story follows the life of a nine-year-old boy named Garnet (Evan Rose), who lives with his overprotective mother, Fiona (Jane McGregor) and his younger sister, Flower (Calla Beyers). They live in a small town in British Columbia, Canada. Garnet's father passed away before his birth, and Fiona has never come to terms with his death.

Garnet is a quiet and shy child who struggles to cope with his mother's overbearing nature. Fiona is extremely protective of Garnet, to the extent that she monitors his every move and forbids him from having any contact with his father's family. Meanwhile, Garnet has become fascinated with death after discovering his father's old stash of pornographic magazines. He collects dead animals and keeps them in jars, and he also has macabre daydreams about his own death.

Flower, on the other hand, is a happy-go-lucky child who is the center of attention in the family. She loves spending time with her grandparents, Walter (Callum Keith Rennie) and his wife, Ruth (Alisha Penev). Garnet's relationship with his grandparents is strained due to Fiona's hostility towards them, but he is drawn to Walter's quiet strength and wisdom.

As the story progresses, Garnet and Walter's relationship deepens, and Garnet begins to come to terms with his father's death. He starts to assert his independence from Fiona and becomes more confident in expressing himself. However, when tragedy strikes, Garnet must come to terms with loss and grief once again.

The film explores themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of mother-son relationships. Fiona's overprotective nature is portrayed not only as a result of her grief but also as a reflection of the societal pressure on mothers to be perfect caregivers. Garnet's fascination with death is portrayed as a natural part of a child's psychological development and not something to be feared or repressed.

Keith Behrman's direction is nuanced and sensitive, and he allows the characters and their relationships to develop organically. The performances of the cast, especially Evan Rose and Callum Keith Rennie, are standout, and they bring depth and nuance to their portrayal of the characters.

Overall, Flower & Garnet is a moving and contemplative film that deals with complex emotional themes with sensitivity and insight. It is a story of loss, grief, love, and the complexities of the mother-son relationship that will resonate with audiences of all ages.