Ethan's boyish charm and innocence, combined with the very grown-up problems of drug addiction and paying rent, provide a very lovable and complex character. His friendships with the town matriarchs along with his newfound adoration of the lovely young Georgia feed this juxtaposition as he tries to come to terms with the losses he has endured. Unable to step outside the small world he has created for himself, both in his mind and in his garden, he is left with feelings of both desperation and hope. This plays out in an all-too-real, yet fairy-tale ending. Ethan's story reinforces the idea that as long as you have a legacy to leave, you can live forever. Although I don't have much experience with hardcore addicts, I found that I could entirely relate to the lead character, Ethan, and his neighboring friends and foes. This film has the power to give the viewer a lot of insight into the life and mind of an addict without being dry or preachy. Using wit, a wry gentleness, a touch of absurdity and a stellar cast, Mark David and co-writer Ronnie Gene Blevins have given us a vivid and imaginative view of a hopeless man who is, beautifully, full of hope.
Review of American Cowslip
American Cowslip
(2009)
a visually stimulating, emotionally inspiring take on the life of a junkie... very unique.
9 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers