Where the Lilies Bloom

source: Where the Lilies Bloom

Such a memorable film and one in which I first took notice of actor Harry Dean Stanton. His character was pivotal in the story and Harry gave such a nuanced performance. Harry had been in westerns a good bit of his early career starting in the 1950s and this was such a big part in a small picture. All the principals seemed so real and Harry was the string that tied it together.

I remember the book, so I am a bit biased, but I am basing my rating on the film version alone. Now, I have lived in one of the poorest and most rural areas of North Carolina myself before a mere ten years after this film was released- I can say that probably not a whole lot changed from 1974. Even homes that weren't as poor as depicted in Where the Lilies Bloom, I remember entering and even the floors inside were not level. The family is supposed to be extremely poor, so poor they barely keep food on the table by bartering and selling herbs and plants gathered from the local woods that are to be used in traditional medicines. The children are wearing brand new Levi's and well made plaid shirts which fit, except the littlest one in a shirt that is just a tad too large (get it? it's a "hand me down"). The clothing is typical mid-70s style, the real poor would have been in very ill-fitting severely outdated, maybe polyester in garish colors and patterns, clothing you'd get second hand. I wonder who the film's clothing consultant was? and since it was filmed practically on location, couldn't they've done just a bit of research? Yeah yeah, it wouldn't have the same aesthetic... Roy Luther ends up passing away (not a spoiler, the entire plot is about the children trying to keep his death a secret from the authorities) really from poverty, in the book it's given that he died from intestinal worms (film version doesn't elaborate on how he died, however- I think that's a big loss, it's important to the story) yet the film has the kids trying to drive the family truck: late model Dodge maybe? I will say in North Carolina even today a truck is say, what a boat to someone in California is: a luxury, a wish item. If the family were so poor, how could they afford that vehicle? and why wasn't it sold when Roy Luther died, to get them some money? Wouldn't that be the first thing you'd do to be able to put food on the table? Where did they get the coffin for Roy Luther the kids buried him in? Maybe I missed something in the movie. Then, Hollywood has to season it up to make it "country": "Kiser Pease" rides up to the Luther's home on horseback yet. A horse is a luxury item there, as much as it is any where else- yes, even in the 1970s South. Well, the character "Kiser" does bring the object of his desire "Devola" a "couple o' hams" as a gift one day so maybe he's a high roller? But, he doesn't even smoke! EVERY one in North Carolina smokes. Old people, young people, men, women, poor, rich, children smoke. North Carolina is tobacco country. But no one in the movie smokes. Oh well. It's a lazy Sunday afternoon movie, and it's entertaining, and it's nice to see trees and country. I just wish the film were just a bit truer to reality, and not a romantic view of what "country people" are in screen writer's minds, with the girls in pretty floral dresses and the token man on horseback.

Over the decades, I often have thought back to the country, coming-of-age movies and TV shows that came out around the same time as the Waltons and Little House On The Prairie, among them, Palmerstown USA, Where the Red Fern Grows, Apple's Way among so many other programs. How about that one with Glenn Ford and Julie Harris? Caught a bit of it recently. Family Hoke or something? Bit too much, really. But I always remembered a girl who I knew was NOT Sissy Spacek swearing at someone in a (hospital room?) knew it wasn't an office. She began talking calmly, then cut loose with "D-*- you! D*-* you!" over and over, real loud and the laziest drawl I had ever heard (I'm from the south myself). Then it seemed she was walking home on the country road and the truck came pulling up behind her and she was cussing quietly under her breath. It was this movie. Just watched it. There it all was again. Did remember the kids in that runaway truck coming to a stop in the ditch out in the field like that, but didn't realize it was the same movie. Now if I could just find the movie where the woman (Kim Darby looking) is a new teacher in the boonies and is teaching kids Old McDonald and none of them sing with her and one little girl gets up to go to the chalkboard and slides her feet across the floor and the teacher has to correct her on this. Somebody clearly didn't know this isn't the lazy way of walking, sliding your feet on the floor like that. Not picking your feet up or dragging them is more the result that this sliding depiction. There were many movies and TV shows about the backwoods country living, life down on the farm, but like so many things out of Hollywood, you can't really believe the way they are shown in programs and movies.

I first saw this film about 15 years ago and was so excited to find it playing again on cable. I was surprised when the scenes went from the father's death to the father's burial without all the happenings I remember in between. Am I losing my mind or didn't the children delay burial for quite a while in the original? It was a bit grisly, but I seem to remember a scene in which the father was shown (dead) to a nosy neighbor and said to be asleep. I try to write with as few words as possible and yet this will not be accepted unless it is at least ten lines long. That seems a waste of everyone's time if you can say what you want to say in less.

In the 1990's I used to show this film after my students read the excellent book. It was filmed in the 1970's, but the lifestyles represented have changed somewhat: a lot more drugs now and less outdoor activities. The poverty still exists, but the finer qualities of strong family bonds and folk arts are less appreciated. Great story, excellent actors, and beautifully filmed. Julie Gholson, now Carmichael, still lives in Birmingham, AL., a happy grandmother who never regretted her choice of home over Hollywood.

This movie is well worth watching, it's intriguing and feels like it shows what life was like and even may still be like in the smokies for the people that live there. Because it is not well known, it looks like it was recently made not 36 years ago (as of 2010) and the cinematics are a joy to watch. I also agree, with all the others beautiful scenery of the hills. You find yourself drawn in and you really end up caring about the characters and you want them to accomplish the hiding of their father's death from all the visitors just so they can stay together. If you see this movie is on the schedule take the time to watch this treasure back in 1974.

I loved this movie. I give it 5 stars because the movie shows the hard life in the mountains. It just stood out at the library when I looked for a movie. I read the book and it was just as good. Mary Call was bossy, but I understood why. Ima Dean was cute but boring. All she did was sit, sing songs, take bathes and go to school. Romey was rather loud and Devola was queer in the head. All in all, it was a great movie.

This is a great movie. I fell in love with it the first time I watched it. I really love it. The best part about it is that the house where it was filmed is the house where my grandfather grew up. This is a great family movie. It shows how life was back then and how far people will go to keep a promise to someone that meant the world to them.

I loved this film. The children are engaging and I became surprisingly invested in their efforts. I wish I could have seen the film on the big screen because this area of North Carolina is incredible. Their poverty and tremendous difficulties juxtaposed with the peace and serenity of the land combine the sweet and the bitter beautifully.