kristin E.
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 The clothing is typical mid-70s style, the real poor would have been in very ill-fitting severely outdated, maybe polyester in garish colors and patterns, clothing you'd get second hand.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.
triple8
I had read this book before I actually saw the movie, and this was quite a long time ago. I thought both the book and the movie were just great. The scenery is magnificent and the characters are vivid and fleshed out. This is a story about a family of young kids who live in the mountains and the adversities they face. It is a beautiful story and one that I'd tell anyone to see. There's a Steel Magnolias touch to it(meaning you'll cry a lot!) but you'll also fall in love with these kids and the loveliness of the scenery. I rarely see this movie playing on television anymore and do not even know if the book is still in print but it is a truly lovely movie that should be a lot more known then it is and is a great movie to view.
mburkman-1
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.
heatherc-1
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.
