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Overview

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White Oleander, 2002

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Alison Lohman

Directed by: Peter Kosminsky

Written by: Mary Agnes Donoghue

Language: English

Country: USA, Germany

Runtime: 109 min

MPAA Rating: PG_13

Rating:7.0

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Profile of White Oleander

White Oleander can be described as disturbing, emotional, and touching. The plot revolves around custody issues, legal issues, and family problems. The main genre is drama. In terms of style, White Oleander includes a voice over and is a melodrama. In approach, it is serious and realistic. It is set, at least in part, in an urban environment. White Oleander is located in Los Angeles. It takes place in contemporary times. It is well suited for a girls' night.

Summary of White Oleander

WHITE OLEANDER, the Janet Fitch novel made famous on Oprah's Book Club, is the tale of an intense and toxic mother-daughter relationship, coupled with a look at the fundamentally skewed U.S. foster care system. When the beautiful photographer Ingrid Magnusson (Michelle Pfeiffer) is imprisoned for allegedly murdering a philandering boyfriend, her daughter Astrid (Alison Lohman) does her best to survive a string of foster homes where natural adolescent mistakes turn into land mines. Her first stop is the home of a born-again Christian, Starr (Robin Wright Penn, who is so good in this part she's physically unrecognizable.) Next, she is sent to the home of a clinically depressed actress, Claire Richards (Renee Zellweger, whose natural effervescence is delightfully disturbing here.) Claire uses Astrid to fill the void left by a roaming husband (Noah Wyle). Astrid juggles her list of changing homes with visits to Mommy Dearest in prison, while suffering flashbacks of the alleged murder.

WHITE OLEANDER, the first feature for U.K. television director Peter Kosminsky, is stark and brooding. Its simultaneously awful and lovely tone is reminiscent of AMERICAN BEAUTY or THE ICE STORM.

Details

Language:	English
Country:	USA, Germany
Release date:	8 October 2002
Runtime:	109 min

Cast and Crew See all

Michelle Pfeiffer

as Ingrid Magnussen

Alison Lohman

as Astrid Magnussen

Photos See all

Noah Wyle and Renee Zellweger in White Oleander (2002)

Alison Lohman and Renee Zellweger in White Oleander (2002)

Patrick Fugit and Alison Lohman in White Oleander (2002)

Robin Wright Penn, Alison Lohman and Liz Stauber in White Oleander (2002)

Alison Lohman and Svetlana Efremova in White Oleander (2002)

Renee Zellweger, director Peter Kosminsky and Michelle Pfeiffer in White Oleander (2002)

Clips See all

White Oleander: Home Video

White Oleander: Theatrical

Critics Reviews See all

The New York Times

The accumulation of sharp candid flashes adds up to a disturbing vision of Los Angeles as a teeming jungle of dysfunction. Full Review

|
by: Stephen Holden

Users Reviews See all

White Oleander

A unique movie about a relationship between daughter and mother. A teenage girl must survive in a world where her mother was sent to prison for killing her boyfriend. She resides with several foster families while all along her mother attempts to... Read and rate it

22.September.2008
|
by: amit.alter
amit.alter rated this movie0/10

Emotional and amazing movie

I read the book and couldn't put it down! Powerful characters and great story, though not a very happy one. Read and rate it

17.July.2008
|
by: allisonshaki
allisonshaki rated this movie6/10Okay

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