The Hanging Garden (1997)

Canadian writer-director Thom Fitzgerald won awards for this unusual memory piece about a gay man (Chris Leavins) who returns home to his sister's wedding and the garden where he may or may not have made a tragic decision as an unhappy teen. Fitzgerald alters reality and indulges in quirks without any comment: past and present mingle, the eyes of statues move, and the whole thing drips with rain, portent, and an unpredictable sense of humor. His film will frustrate anyone wanting easy answers (or, in some cases, any answers at all) and it is, perhaps, aggressively unconventional. But its raw edges have a freshness to them, and Fitzgerald's people and events feel unusually alive (Kerry Fox is particularly fine as the brassy sibling). He doesn't view his characters in one dimension, seeing them instead as ever-blooming creatures of history, dreams, superstition, and regret. --Steve Wiecking Amazon.com

When realities collide

If you've ever wondered what path your life would have taken if you'd made some key decisions differently, this is a movie that takes that concept to another level. Realities and time periods intersect, twist and turn. Characters step in and out of these realities, too. Writer/director Thom Fitzgerald created a rare masterpiece. He has discussed in interviews about how it is not intended to be clear which path is the "real" one so it is left to viewer to decide. March 19, 2008

its heart is in the right place, I think

But at times I found this picture was so contrived that it bordered on the unwatchable. Are we really to believe the Atlantic Provinces of Canada are inhabited by such ill-bred, unlikable, foul-mouthed losers? There are more 4-letter words in the first 10 minutes than most movies starring Eddie Murphy. I also found the direction somewhat unnatural and amateurish. The most serious complaint that can be lodged against this film, though? Let's consider a number of things about it: an unconventional bildungsroman set in a dysfunctional family - obdurate, obsessive-compulsive father, all-suffering mother, insane extended relatives - in a provincial subculture of Canada. Uncomfortable scenes of informal prostitution in said culture. A subplot involving body type modification. A scene of youthful self-pleasure. Flashbacks revealing the inner fantasy life of the protagonist. A somewhat ambiguous ending that may or may not be a dream. Sound familiar? It sure does if you've seen the 1992 Canadian film Leolo. Anxiety of influence or outright copying we can never know, but see that vastly superior film before you see this one.
Although, if like me you were mostly curious to see the CutewithChris guy in his first role, you should know he's much better as CutewithChris.

February 2, 2008

Raw,tense,innovative and unflinchingly honest HANGING GARDEN

No small wonder that THE HANGING GARDEN was 1997 Canadian Film Winner at Toronto.This is one tight script,one imaginative and raw look at family dynamics, and a refreshing and innovative piece of story telling that blends past and present with incredible ease and expertise.It takes going outside American films to see this kind of a powerfully explicit film.This film examines incest,parental abuse,suicide,hetero/bi/homo-sexuality,alcoholism,prostitution and the enabling power to keep it all going by not discussing it!Welcome to Canada...Thank God!

When William returns to his home after 10 years to be at his sister Rosemary's wedding,we are immediately thrown into the chaotic world of this family.(The fact that everyone in the family is named for a flower,has no last name mentioned, and the wedding takes place in this gorgeous hanging plant garden, sets up this 91 minute metaphor on growing up in a home where there is a tyrannical father who cares for his flowers, but has severely abused his own family.)THIS IS NOT ANOTHER TYPICAL "DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY" STORY-TRUST ME! If anything, what transpires and is uncovered is anything BUT conventional dysfunction.This is outright mental,physical,emotional and sexual suicide.These are characters so damaged by one who has "tended his garden" and have been fed,watered and nurtured with ALL of the most toxic,noxious and inappropriate things a "gardener" could possibly use! Growth occurs.....but what kind of growth?...what kind of plant?...what kind of garden?.I am giving away no more!.I was utterly surprised and shocked by everything in this film.I don't know why! It was MY family...and yet it still always leaves me in a state of denial and unbelief that family secrets still leave the undeniable print of "stunted growth" by a "malicious husbandman." It is truly amazing that I and my siblings ever bloomed at all!!!!!!
This was the writing and directorial debut of Thom Fitzgerald (BEEFCAKE) and one of the first films for Canadian superstar Sarah Polley,who made HER directorial debut this year in AWAY FROM HER, another uncompromisingly honest and raw look at Alzheimer's and marital infidelity.Listen folks....if you want to be entertained,I say watch American fare.If you want to be challenged,go over and outside the border! You can buy this DVD for less than $4.00! C'mon! November 7, 2007

Very Special

"THE HANGING GARDEN"

Very Special

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Also not a new film "The Hanging Garden" (MGM DVD, 1997) is an important one in that it is the story of a gay man who moved away from home to come out and then returns ten years after he ran away as an unhappy, obese teenager. As he comes back to watch his sister be married he is faced with both family members and conflicts that spark painful memories.
When William returns to see his sister marry his boyhood friend, things were already screwed up. His father has become more of an alcoholic than he was when William left, his mother cannot stand herself or her life and a young boy who reflects himself when he was young has hung himself from a tree in the backyard. Now all of this sounds a bit confusing but let me assure you that as a metaphor this movie is beautiful. What you must remember is that according to the Tarot cards, death does not mean death but a change.
William's problems with his family stem from the fact that he is openly gay but because of the changes he goes through we see the power of everything. This film is brilliantly acted and lushly photographed. At first you may feel that you are watching yet another movie about a dysfunctional family. Sure, it is a family with problems but this is not what gives the characters life. As we watch the mixture of love, pathos and tragedy which ultimately brings about a beautiful conclusion, our own feelings are renewed and heightened.
William, our main character, returns to watch his first lover, Fletcher, marry his free-spirited and foul mouthed sister. Rosemary. Through flashbacks and mind wandering memory sequence, we are let into the past of the family and the gay life of William. The film is basically a group of character sketches. In one such sketch, William has his first gay encounter and his mother is aghast beyond words. She plans to set him up with a town whore to cure him of his "problem" but William, successfully completely the sexual tryst and still prefers men.
On several occasions the grown William comes face to face with the younger William and brings about ugly memories and a sorrowful re-acquaintance with the time that he attempted suicide. This is a touching scene that can move one to tears while the movie never really does not reach a tear jerking status. This is an uplifting movie and is really full of hope.
"The Hanging Garden" is a realistic family drama which combines fantasy and reality but by and large is the tale of a troubled, young, urban, gay man coming home to face his family and himself. The garden of the title, where the wedding is being held, holds the majority of the memories of the family.
William surprises his family with a new look, he is thin and handsome but the scars of his youth still burn--the abuse he suffered from his father, the attempt to reform him by his mother, the appearance of his childhood boyfriend, Fletcher are memories that haunt him. The once obese boy who looked to suicide as a way out of his problems still feels anguish and pain. It is through the eyes of William that the film progresses. As depressing as all of this sounds, the film is optimistic and imaginative. At times hard to follow, for those who manage to succumb to the beauty portrayed here, they will have a beautiful memory of having seen something very special.
December 17, 2006

A Dying Hanging Garden

I always keep an open mind when it comes to watching movies. Regardless of what the plot may be, if it is executed well, anything goes. I read the plot synopsis of this film and thought it sounded interesting. I did not know that the manner in which this story was told would be through one cliched visual gimmick after another.

I don't feel the need to go into particulars of the plot of The Hanging Garden. The plot is not important. What is important to know, however, is that this story is told in starts and stops as the time frame jumps from past to present and back. There is no structure to the director's method of jumping time. The method is not free form but more free wheeling. The acting is done by people who seem to only be around to appear convincing enough and interesting enough to collect a paycheck. They neither are convincing or interesting. But, this may be because the characterizations are so unrealized.

The Celtic music is extremely grating, the cursing is cliched (and plentiful), and the back story of the characters is sketchy at best. I wish I could find something decent about this movie. Well, the lighting was good. Can't say much for the sound though. One scene by the water is filled with so much background noise I have no clue what was being said. Bottom line is The Hanging Gardens is a gimmicky film that has more style than substance and unfortunately, the style is void of originality or worthiness. Stay away from this film. March 4, 2006

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