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Cottage Gardens

cute movie 'Greenfingers'

15 years ago

I saw this movie yesterday. It is about English prisoners allowed to begin a new gardening program as part of their reform. The men really take to gardening and do very well. Helen Miren stars as a celebrity gardner who works with the men. Clive Owen ("King Arthur") plays one of the prisoners, who becomes a garden genius.

The movie was made in 2000 and billed as a comedy. The English Horticultural Society and their competition is featured in the movie. The movie is based on a true story, and subsequent prisoner gardeners go on to win the Society's top honors.

Lorna

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Comments (6)

zigzag
15 years ago
Haven't seen this one, but thank you, Lorna, for bringing up a thought process! Fact is, here and abroad, there is a HUGE untapped resource in prison populations and little effort to not only tap manpower, but teach and encourage them to pursue better lives thru realistic means. Sad. The penal system is pathetic.

Gardening wise, where I grew up there was a 'county jail', referred to as the 'County Farm'. Said jail and its inmates ran a gorgeous farm - some livestock and lots of agriculture. This county jail provided a huge percentage of the foodstuffs for the local hospital. Physically, they were next door to each other making for easy access - (and a blip or two - my grandfather tried to discharge my Mom at the Jail entrance, having missed the Hospital driveway when she was set to deliver twins!!). The County Farm was a respected and great contributer to the area.

On another track, I have seen footage of inmates paired with canines (usually problem dogs, like their new handlers, but with attributes akin to becoming service dogs) and the spectacular results to both man and dog in the training process. Nothing but good there.

Given the obscenely huge prison population is this country alone, why is it that a 30 minute chance to rub out their fellow inmates in frustration in the 'execise yard', trumps the mere thought of putting them to work? Why is said work, which would teach and redirect them, so esoteric?

I just don't get it. Such a huge waste. So many possibilities.
lorna-organic
Original Author
15 years ago
I hadn't thought about it, Zigzag, but there is a minimum security prison in this county which has a farm. They have beautiful fields of corn. They also have extensive, well kept lawns!

Lorna
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No, I haven't seen that movie Angel... in fact I have never seen ANY Bette Davis movies until just before this past Christmas. That's what prompted me to buy the two I listed. We have a BIG video/DVD library b/c for years we never had cable tv (just by choice) so we watched a lot of movies instead. That's when I really got into the oldies. Also my hubby has always worked shifts/nights and I *HATE* the sound of a quiet house so I've been in the habit for 20 years of falling asleep to the old movies. They aren't loud like some of the modern movies and being black and white they keep the room pretty dark but also they usually had live orchestra scores to go along with the movie and the string instruments were most commonly used and they are nice to fall asleep to. Oddly enough, Psycho has nice soft music and it's VERY easy to fall asleep to, that is, until the big SCREAM right near the end when Lila Crane finds... well...you know... ;o) I'll have to look into the Bette Davis movie you've recommended...thanks :o) Barb southern Ontario, CANADA
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Since I work with convicts at the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery, many people have recommended this movie to me. I don't have any murderers amongst the crew members, who are doing work project in lieu of the county jail. I also haven't had any crew members who look like Clive Owen, although a few have been very cute, and others have been somewhat scary or sadly deteriorated from drink and drugs. If I didn't have these men helping me every Saturday and Sunday, we could not manage the rose garden or the city cemetery grounds. Until recently there has been just one paid city staff member (they just hired another one) and devoted volunteers like me, so thank goodness for the Sheriff's crew. You're right, Ann, the movie is cute and predictable and a pleasant way for a gardener to spend some couch time. Anita
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While watching, "The Queen" a few years ago (not exactly a gardening movie, but the British movies always have lots of garden eye candy. Clive Owen is also great British eye candy.) I was amazed at the Red Hot Poker Borders in the Balmoral Castle, Scottish Highlands Garden. I lined my driveway with Kniphofia after that and am treated now every year when they bloom. I never thought they would do so spectacular way up here. It is great to get inspiration from gardens in movies. Greenfingers in next up on my Netflix. :o) I need a gardening fix after these snowstorms and freezes we've been having.
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Loved "The Castle" although I think the company that released it for the US, felt they needed to dub over bits of it so that Americans could understand it. Also from "down under", an off-beat love story: Eagle vs Shark and quite possibly the best comedy about Austrailan lawn bowling: Crackerjack (from 2002) And from France: "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" a comedy about a postal worker who gets transferred to "the sticks" in Northern France.
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gottagarden
15 years ago
I saw the movie a few years ago and enjoyed it, it was "garden related" so I had to see it.
lvtgrdn
15 years ago
I think I've seen it. If not, I recorded it and have it somewhere in my house. I'll have to look for it and maybe I'd enjoy watching it again, since my memory is so bad.

Sue :o)
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
15 years ago
I'm the same way, anything that's garden related I do enjoy. DH got me Rosemary and Thyme for Christmas, I've got "Gardens of the World" with Audrey Hepburn on order. Thinking about ordering "Great Gardens of England" and not really garden related but thinking of ordering "Wine for the Confused" with John Cleese :o) all to be stashed away for winter viewing. I did see "Green Fingers" some time ago and enjoyed it, I'll have to look and see if it's available on DVD.

Annette
todancewithwolves
15 years ago
I love British flicks. I will pick that up tonight. DH will be out for the night so it'll be a nice evening for me, the dogs and cats. Thanks, Lorna

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