Way back in March we told you about a movie called Fireflies in the Garden. With a tremendous cast and screenplay based on a best selling book, I thought it had a lot of potential. At the time all we had was a poster and a synopsis along with a targeted summer of 2008 release date. Obviously, it’s not going to make the summer release date, but we’ve finally gotten a preview.
There still isn’t any word on when exactly this movie is coming out. I still think it has a lot of potential and it’s still listed with a 2008 release date so I’m thinking maybe they’ll try to sneak this one in before the end of the year to garner some awards attention. I haven’t seen it, of course, so I don’t know if it’s worthy of any accolades, but it certainly seems like it might be the kind of movie the award committees tend to go for.
Fireflies In The Garden is about Michael Taylor (Ryan Reynolds), an author who has channeled his painful childhood memories into his novels. With some reluctance, he is flying home for his mother Lisa’s (Julia Roberts) college graduation. After a lifetime of putting everyone else first, stroking her husband’s (Willem Dafoe) massively insecure ego and raising her children in spite of that, it’s Lisa’s turn. What should be a moment of great celebration turns into a tragic reunion when Lisa is killed in a car accident, leaving father, son and family to pick up the pieces.
While preparing for their mother’s funeral, memories are relived and secrets are revealed which will test the family bond. After a childhood of hiding in his father’s shadows, protected by his mother, Michael must confront his past and find an understanding of his family, his father and himself.
In addition to Ryan Reynolds, Julie Roberts, and Willem Dafoe, Fireflies In The Garden also stars Hayden Panettiere, Emily Watson, Carrie-Anne Moss and Ioan Gruffudd.
Fireflies In The Garden is a semi-autobiographical story written and directed by Dennis Lee. The title comes from the poem of the same name by Robert Frost.
