Flower & Garnet

Colour, 35mm
Canada, 2002, 103 min
Section: Forum of Independents

Synopsis

Garnet (8) and Flower (16) are brother and sister. Their mother died giving birth to Garnet, and their father, Ed, has never been able to get over it. Both children are growing up in an atmosphere of grief – and empty beer bottles... Ed tries to take care of his family, but subconsciously blames Garnet for his wife’s death and has never treated him like a son. The boy becomes subdued and lonely, and even more isolated when Flower, who has cared for him like a mother, becomes pregnant with her first boyfriend and leaves home. One day Ed buys his son an air rifle for his birthday and teaches him how to use it, but he has no idea of the consequences this might have... An intense, desperate family portrait about loneliness, supressed emotions, love and loss, pain and hope.

About the director

Keith Behrman (1963, Saskatchewan) studied fine arts at Simon Fraser University, then he trained in film at the Canadian Film Centre. He directed three short films: Thomas (1994), White Cloud, Blue Mountain (1997) and Ernest (2000). Flower and Garnet is his feature debut. He lives in Vancouver.