At the Sundance screening of this film, the director told us that the "evergreen" of the title referred to the green envy the main character feels toward those who have so much while she does not. This was a realistic story of a young girl who moves into her grandmother's ramshakle house with her grandmother. They are quite poor, and when the girl (Henri) meets a rich boy at school, she wants to be part of his family. The movie is about Henri's discovery that money doesn't really take away problems. This was good effort for all involved.
14 Reviews
Keep Going and Don't Look Back
clstar2515 September 2004
I grew up about 20 minutes outside of Marysville, WA and left that crap town about two minutes after I turned 18. Evergreen is the reason why. The plot may seem slow and manufactured to some, but that's just because they don't have the depth to understand that kind of life. The Pacific Northwest is a unique place: there's poverty with few ways out and the writer accurately displayed its territory of factories and Indian casinos. If your family wasn't in on the Intel or Microsoft boom, then you were likely at the mercy of the Georgia Pacific factory (Toliet Paper) or Bellingham Cold Storage (frozen fish factory). Inidan Reservations can only get support from the government through establishing a Casino, which often wouldn't create the revenues they needed to sustain their initial investments.
Although I had the advantage (or should I say disadvantage) of understanding these characters unique situations because I too, was raised in a four room shack with a leaky roof, we had vermin and a garage with no garage doors, as well as an unmanicured lawn because we couldn't afford to fix the lawnmower- I still believe the writer had a larger responsibility to the audience to which does not understand these circumstances, let alone the little victories and joy in escaping them.
The acting was sympathetic and believable, but the writing could have been strengthened if - instead of being shown the rainy depressing details of the town - we experienced them through the characters. Henri never goes to the edge the way you do when you truly are in poverty like that. Trust me on that. We only saw a little fight here or there, but no significant strain of plot. When you're up against the wall in that kind of poverty - without enough money for "bus fare" and you don't have your own bed as the roof above leaks on you, there are ways of coping. Drugs, alcohol, sex, prostitution, runaways, crime, vandalism...and all we see is just a little more than what a suburbanite kid on an ABC after school special might turn to.
This film couldn't help but grab me because it pulled me back into a place I left 12 years ago with a piece of junk car much like the one Kate's boyfriend drove around in. The grass, trees, sound of rain, the logs, the storefronts, it was all set still in time, and it was the first time I'd been back to that place I never wanted to set foot in again. But not every moviegoer will have this perspective.
Sometimes, there's a reason not to go back, and after seeing this film I now remember why. It left me with that same hopeless, tired, sad feeling that being in a family of victims is as high in life as one can go. Thank God that piece of junk car of mine just kept going. I'd suggest you do the same.
Although I had the advantage (or should I say disadvantage) of understanding these characters unique situations because I too, was raised in a four room shack with a leaky roof, we had vermin and a garage with no garage doors, as well as an unmanicured lawn because we couldn't afford to fix the lawnmower- I still believe the writer had a larger responsibility to the audience to which does not understand these circumstances, let alone the little victories and joy in escaping them.
The acting was sympathetic and believable, but the writing could have been strengthened if - instead of being shown the rainy depressing details of the town - we experienced them through the characters. Henri never goes to the edge the way you do when you truly are in poverty like that. Trust me on that. We only saw a little fight here or there, but no significant strain of plot. When you're up against the wall in that kind of poverty - without enough money for "bus fare" and you don't have your own bed as the roof above leaks on you, there are ways of coping. Drugs, alcohol, sex, prostitution, runaways, crime, vandalism...and all we see is just a little more than what a suburbanite kid on an ABC after school special might turn to.
This film couldn't help but grab me because it pulled me back into a place I left 12 years ago with a piece of junk car much like the one Kate's boyfriend drove around in. The grass, trees, sound of rain, the logs, the storefronts, it was all set still in time, and it was the first time I'd been back to that place I never wanted to set foot in again. But not every moviegoer will have this perspective.
Sometimes, there's a reason not to go back, and after seeing this film I now remember why. It left me with that same hopeless, tired, sad feeling that being in a family of victims is as high in life as one can go. Thank God that piece of junk car of mine just kept going. I'd suggest you do the same.
Boring, slow, and transparent.
Otis-96 June 2004
I saw this movie at a screening at a local AMC theater - they were at the time considering whether or not to pick up the movie and show it at some places in their chain and randomly invited people to come and see it. I was selected and brought a friend of mine.
I didn't have any idea what to expect so went in with an open mind. The premise of the movie was interesting and showed promise, but the characters were all complete clichés and had no depth. I blame the writing of the script because the actors did a decent job with what they were given to work with. The way the story carried out was just slow, slow, slow! All of the conflict felt manufactured and not real. The plot development just didn't work in my opinion. There was just no reason for me to actually care about anyone involved in the movie.
The main plot involving the girl and her "rebelleous side" could have been lifted out of a bad "Svaed By The Bell" episode it was so shallow. The subplot involving the mom and her new boyfriend, for example, felt completely fake and contrived.
I feel bad writing such a bad review of this movie but the fact is it just isn't good. I respect the fact that the writer really put a lot into making this movie (she was at the theater and we got to talk to her afterwards) and made it this far, but it just isn't worth seeing. I have seen many independent films that I wish would have been promoted by AMC at arthouses that never made it and they were thinking of giving THIS film a shot at the big time? Give me a break!
Check the user ratings - currently 4.5/10. That says it all IMO.
* 1/2 out of ****
I didn't have any idea what to expect so went in with an open mind. The premise of the movie was interesting and showed promise, but the characters were all complete clichés and had no depth. I blame the writing of the script because the actors did a decent job with what they were given to work with. The way the story carried out was just slow, slow, slow! All of the conflict felt manufactured and not real. The plot development just didn't work in my opinion. There was just no reason for me to actually care about anyone involved in the movie.
The main plot involving the girl and her "rebelleous side" could have been lifted out of a bad "Svaed By The Bell" episode it was so shallow. The subplot involving the mom and her new boyfriend, for example, felt completely fake and contrived.
I feel bad writing such a bad review of this movie but the fact is it just isn't good. I respect the fact that the writer really put a lot into making this movie (she was at the theater and we got to talk to her afterwards) and made it this far, but it just isn't worth seeing. I have seen many independent films that I wish would have been promoted by AMC at arthouses that never made it and they were thinking of giving THIS film a shot at the big time? Give me a break!
Check the user ratings - currently 4.5/10. That says it all IMO.
* 1/2 out of ****
Good Film - Terrible Technology
commanderjim-214 September 2004
Evergreen is a type of film that I particularly enjoy. It deals with the lives of people we might ignore or shun if we encountered them in the course of our own lives. Nevertheless, these people share aspirations and frustrations common to all humanity and the adversities they strive to overcome make such people fascinating.
Evergreen is well written and extremely well acted. The cast can't be faulted on any level. On the other hand, "Gas, Food, Lodging," a film that is, in many respects, similar is vastly superior to this one.
As an experiment with the potential to make movie distribution far more profitable than currently is the case, AMC has converted this film to digital technology and is "feeding" the film to its theaters via satellite. The resultant images are dark, murky and lacking in precise focus. My own large screen TV provides a much superior image and it is not "state-of-the art" technology.
I will not be seeing any more films that employ this crude technology. I'd rather wait for the DVD or, even, skip the whole experience.
Evergreen is well written and extremely well acted. The cast can't be faulted on any level. On the other hand, "Gas, Food, Lodging," a film that is, in many respects, similar is vastly superior to this one.
As an experiment with the potential to make movie distribution far more profitable than currently is the case, AMC has converted this film to digital technology and is "feeding" the film to its theaters via satellite. The resultant images are dark, murky and lacking in precise focus. My own large screen TV provides a much superior image and it is not "state-of-the art" technology.
I will not be seeing any more films that employ this crude technology. I'd rather wait for the DVD or, even, skip the whole experience.
Made For TV Vibe
mcjensen-059242 December 2020
This views like an after school special. The acting is almost as bad as daytime soap operas, and about as slow moving and overacted too. While the beginning does manage to hook you in, 15 to 20 minutes later you have extricated that hook and are reaching for the remote. Not one character was believable in their role, from the periphery students all the way up to the main character and her mother and grandmother. The 10 star reviews here are bought and paid for and I advise to disregard them. The inconsistencies in this movie are glaring. For someone with no money she has makeup, nice clothing, jewelry etc. The mother just harps on their bright future while bemoaning everything they don't have. The home they were living in would have been condemned in a second. At first glance at the outside you just knew it was a home sought out by a movie scout and inserted into one shot to try and get the sense of wrenching poverty driven home to viewers who aren't so savvy.
Coming of age film deals poorly with complex issues
den2th12 September 2004
This film attempts admirably to show the pain of adolescence, especially in a poor family. Unfortunately it lacks the quality of acting and direction to give it real impact. We are distracted by the fact that some of the characters at least don't seem real and the actors often don't seem to be "on the same page".
This viewer made the mistake of taking at face value a reviewer's rating of four stars - a reviewer I didn't even know! - and then being disappointed. My own fault!
Perhaps if I had entered the room with different expectations, or been given the realization that this movie was truly a first time effort or compromised somewhat by low budget I would have been able to be more charitable - and possibly derived more enjoyment from it. But alas the unknown reviewer gave it a glowing rating. Too bad.
This viewer made the mistake of taking at face value a reviewer's rating of four stars - a reviewer I didn't even know! - and then being disappointed. My own fault!
Perhaps if I had entered the room with different expectations, or been given the realization that this movie was truly a first time effort or compromised somewhat by low budget I would have been able to be more charitable - and possibly derived more enjoyment from it. But alas the unknown reviewer gave it a glowing rating. Too bad.
Addie Land adds a freshness to this film.
kndsilver17 August 2004
Addie Land captures the moments in the life of a teenage girl faced with the disparity between the realities her own family faces as working poor and the middle class prosperity of her peers. She is positioned to make decisions about what she is willing to put on the line to better her circumstances--her family--her virginity--her identity. Finally, a movie for young women with some depth. Addie plays the role of the girl, Henri, and she just adds a freshness to the film--she is a natural on screen. The film is set in the northwest--it has style. I saw the film at Sundance this year but understand it may be coming out to theaters soon. Try to check it out.
A fair representation of the 'indie' spirit and a reminder of its limitations.
JohnDeSando9 September 2004
Single moms with teenage daughters are heroes for our times: They must be self reliant, tough, tender and suffer the slings and arrows of a culture that worships youth, which in the teen years is unremittingly disrespectful of the adults that made that culture possible. Writer/director Enid Zentelis has a first feature, 'Evergreen,' which minimally shows some of that teenage rebellion but mostly gives a realistic and rarely obnoxious (Remember Holly Hunter's harried mom in 'Thirteen'?) account of a mother Kate (Cara Seymour, 'Adaptation') and her teen daughter, Henri (talented newcomer Addie Land) starting life again in Tulalip, Washington (filmed in Everett). Kate's vision for Henri says everything about the limits of poverty, the narrow field of expectation, and the accompanying deficiency of taste: "Someday you could manage a fancy department store."
Zentelis approaches cliché territory by showing how impoverished this couple is (Grandma's apartment leaks literal buckets) and how rich Henri's boyfriend, Chat (Noah Fleiss, 'Bringing Rain') is (He drives a Jeep Cherokee)-both rich and poor share the stereotypes of the former wanting out of poverty and the latter corrupted by privilege. Yet the director never condescends to either, for she seems to respect their limitations: Chat's mother, Susan (Mary Kay Place, 'Sweet Home Alabama'), is agoraphobic and father, Frank (Bruce Davison, 'Rules of the Game') an alcoholic; Kate has self image problems, and Henri is ashamed of their poverty (Shame accompanies most teens like acne anyway).
The film delves not deeply into any of these characters while making a full study of the trappings and trials of wealth and poverty. It does, however, have a fully round character in Jim (Gary Farmer, 'Adaptation'), a Native American casino dealer who sees better than anyone the goodness of Kate and Henri, though he knows Henri stole money from him and doesn't know that Kate stole booze from Chat's parents. He is open and loving, perhaps the very spirit of the Pacific Northwest.
'Anywhere But Here,' 'Tumbleweeds,' and the well-known 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' all deal with the rambling mom and daughter. In each we can be reminded of Jane Erskine Stuart's notion that 'in no order of things is adolescence the time pf the simple life.' 'Evergreen' contributes a minimalist realism to the genre while missing crisp dialogue and character development (except for Henri) to make it stand out.
'Evergreen' is a fair representation of the 'indie' spirit and a reminder of its limitations.
(This film is played only in AMC theaters through Digital Theater Distribution System [DTDS], which feeds directly from satellite, obviating the need for film reels. Our image was digital dull.)
Zentelis approaches cliché territory by showing how impoverished this couple is (Grandma's apartment leaks literal buckets) and how rich Henri's boyfriend, Chat (Noah Fleiss, 'Bringing Rain') is (He drives a Jeep Cherokee)-both rich and poor share the stereotypes of the former wanting out of poverty and the latter corrupted by privilege. Yet the director never condescends to either, for she seems to respect their limitations: Chat's mother, Susan (Mary Kay Place, 'Sweet Home Alabama'), is agoraphobic and father, Frank (Bruce Davison, 'Rules of the Game') an alcoholic; Kate has self image problems, and Henri is ashamed of their poverty (Shame accompanies most teens like acne anyway).
The film delves not deeply into any of these characters while making a full study of the trappings and trials of wealth and poverty. It does, however, have a fully round character in Jim (Gary Farmer, 'Adaptation'), a Native American casino dealer who sees better than anyone the goodness of Kate and Henri, though he knows Henri stole money from him and doesn't know that Kate stole booze from Chat's parents. He is open and loving, perhaps the very spirit of the Pacific Northwest.
'Anywhere But Here,' 'Tumbleweeds,' and the well-known 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' all deal with the rambling mom and daughter. In each we can be reminded of Jane Erskine Stuart's notion that 'in no order of things is adolescence the time pf the simple life.' 'Evergreen' contributes a minimalist realism to the genre while missing crisp dialogue and character development (except for Henri) to make it stand out.
'Evergreen' is a fair representation of the 'indie' spirit and a reminder of its limitations.
(This film is played only in AMC theaters through Digital Theater Distribution System [DTDS], which feeds directly from satellite, obviating the need for film reels. Our image was digital dull.)
Exciting story, funny and sad at the same time, great music
katisumas11 June 2004
I went with some friends to the Seattle film festival. Evergreen was one of the films we enjoyed the best. It is the story of a young girl who is from a very poor family. She is new in town and her and her mother have to live with her Latvian grandmother. She falls in love with a guy from a wealthy family and becomes ashamed of her own because she thinks his family is perfect. After many twists of the plot she finds out that his family has its own troubles and she comes to love her own.
There are several interesting characters like an Indian poker dealer, and the eccentric grandmother and also the agoraphobic wealthy housewife who is practically glued to a large pink couch surrounded on the walls by stuffed heads of animals her husband has hunted.
We also enjoyed the music, particularly the songs by Wilco.
There are several interesting characters like an Indian poker dealer, and the eccentric grandmother and also the agoraphobic wealthy housewife who is practically glued to a large pink couch surrounded on the walls by stuffed heads of animals her husband has hunted.
We also enjoyed the music, particularly the songs by Wilco.
Fleiss is a great surprise
user1089r2 December 2009
Noah Fleiss ("Brick", "Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her") certainly saved this movie from total oblivion. Unfortunately, the movie was based on the believability of Henri (Addie Land) as a girl from a low-income family wanting a change, and the believability wasn't there. Henri seemed more like an affluent California girl pretending to be from a poor family, which was not what the director intended nor what we wanted to see. Chat (Fleiss), however, was supposed to provide us with a picture of a shallow affluent teen male, a living cliché, and that is precisely what we got -- effective and, in the final analysis, humorously absurd. Fleiss dependably surprises with the convincing quality of his roles, and this one was so well done that I rather think there might be viewers who thought Fleiss himself was shallow.
Although the remainder of the movie has little to recommend it, go into it expecting only to see a gem of a performance by Noah Fleiss and you will in no way be disappointed.
Although the remainder of the movie has little to recommend it, go into it expecting only to see a gem of a performance by Noah Fleiss and you will in no way be disappointed.
Great film - unique and powerful
edalan-127 June 2004
I thought that this film was great! I saw it at SIFF and went back for a second showing. I thought that the the story was not only well crafted and well presented, but also that it was one not too often told even in independent films these days. The issues of class, race and one's place in world were part of the film, but did not take it over either. I am already a big fan of the director, and wonder what she can pull off with more money.
(After the show they said that it was a totally bare bones production.)
The film is told through details of ordinary people's lives. I was brought into the lives of these people and I liked them people despite all of their flaws. (The mother is a bit confused and dull, the grandmother isn't too kind, the teenage daughter is mean to her mother, the teenage boy is immature, etc.) But since the film shows these people as real people, I liked them all (but for the dad of the teenage boy) and wanted to know them better. For an American film with a teenage love story as one of its plot lines, the film is unique. That's because the story is more about the people then the love, and the people in the story are presented as real and deep.
While I enjoyed the story, and found parts of the film captivating (there is an incredibly tense series of scenes towards the end of the film that bring the film's themes and characters together), what I really like about the film were its themes. Strong women who make mistakes and get through life, class and race and issues of being human are rarely explored in even independent films these days. I was impressed at the issues the film explores, and think that the film carried the themes well.
I'd see at least one more time!
(After the show they said that it was a totally bare bones production.)
The film is told through details of ordinary people's lives. I was brought into the lives of these people and I liked them people despite all of their flaws. (The mother is a bit confused and dull, the grandmother isn't too kind, the teenage daughter is mean to her mother, the teenage boy is immature, etc.) But since the film shows these people as real people, I liked them all (but for the dad of the teenage boy) and wanted to know them better. For an American film with a teenage love story as one of its plot lines, the film is unique. That's because the story is more about the people then the love, and the people in the story are presented as real and deep.
While I enjoyed the story, and found parts of the film captivating (there is an incredibly tense series of scenes towards the end of the film that bring the film's themes and characters together), what I really like about the film were its themes. Strong women who make mistakes and get through life, class and race and issues of being human are rarely explored in even independent films these days. I was impressed at the issues the film explores, and think that the film carried the themes well.
I'd see at least one more time!
Touching
Mercy8829 June 2004
This film was a recommended showing of the week by one of the Seattle papers and I think it deserved the recommendation. In listening to comments after the film festival showing, it seemed that some people thought it dark and moving, but I thought it gentle and touching. It is a slice-of-life movie, wherein, depending upon your view, all of the characters are sympathetic--even though they have all mostly mis-stepped in life and aren't doing a great job of managing. All of the characters, excepting the teenage boy from the wealthy family (who is still rather sheltered)--are grappling. Even those with plenty of resources to work with are struggling, though not so apparently as the poorer family. The performances are sensitive. There was a believable and expressive exchange between the two teenage actors, Addie Land and Noah Fleiss. Both were impressive. Mary Kay Place was very funny as the agoraphobic mother of the rich boy, and Cara Seymour was vulnerable as the down and out mother trying to make a life for her daughter. It's a nice movie--and the music was great!!
Good film!
woodyuk14 September 2004
Hi
I was also at the AMC when Enid turned up, personally I really enjoyed the film, the characters and cast were good. A few of the relationships were a little weak, however it was the sudden and predictable ending which was a shame, it would have been better not to be happy ever after as life never is! for a first time director you should watch this for anyone to get this far and get a run on 100 odd AMC screens for an independent Enid must have put in a LOT of effort to get that far. Support Independent filmmakers!
Woody
I was also at the AMC when Enid turned up, personally I really enjoyed the film, the characters and cast were good. A few of the relationships were a little weak, however it was the sudden and predictable ending which was a shame, it would have been better not to be happy ever after as life never is! for a first time director you should watch this for anyone to get this far and get a run on 100 odd AMC screens for an independent Enid must have put in a LOT of effort to get that far. Support Independent filmmakers!
Woody
Special Film / Exciting new actor in lead roll
zabethel7 July 2004
I saw "Evergreen" at the Seattle International Film Festival in May. I especially recommend this movie to teens. They will relate to the mother/daughter relationship in this movie. I understand this is the first movie the lead actor, Addie Land, has been in. Her acting was wonderful and made the movie more special.
Addie's performance reminded me of Ashley Judd in "Ruby in Paradise". I hope we see more of her in the future. Great talent! BL SE
Addie's performance reminded me of Ashley Judd in "Ruby in Paradise". I hope we see more of her in the future. Great talent! BL SE
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