The Immigrant Garden (2001) Online

A truly wonderful, simple film about a time past. Excellent for the whole family. I enjoy period pieces and being born and raised in rural Washington, this movie was of particular interest. The lack of typical movie contrivances (violence, sex, foul language) is refreshing. The setting for the movie, Oakville WA, is about 15 minutes from my summer cabin in Elma WA so am familiar with the countryside portrayed. The actual town of Oakville (the movie was actually filmed near Centralia, about 15 minutes away) still has the charm portrayed in the film. Certainly it makes us wish for a simpler time...

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. Surprisingly complex characters for such a simple film. The use of local, unknown actors, for the most part, has been used in other films but works particularly well here. You feel as though you are watching conversations between actual people vice a scripted/staged situation.

We loved this movie and recommend it to everyone we meet. Would love to see it come to the big screen.

Greg Campbell's cinematography was gorgeous. The ensemble cast worked remarkably well together, with particularly strong performances turned in by Curt Harris, Peter Lewis and Beverly Fite. Michael Duncan was absolutely charming and Cristiaanna Sabella was hauntingly authentic. The energy of the young cast was infectious and kept the story flowing. The dialog and characters created by Caroline Wood were believable and multidimensional. The long-distance relationship between the grandmotherly Mrs. Beauchamp (Beverly Fite) and the confident and headstrong young Cecily (Angela Johnson) creates an atmosphere that is both endearing and poignant.

Using amateur actors with professional production and direction the outcome is excellent. Filmed in Washington State. A project written and acted by local talent. It is the direction the movie industry should be going so that more people can see a "good" movie more often. A must see for people who want to see a "good" movie.

The Immigrant Garden is a rare treat for my jaded Los Angeles palate. It is heartfelt; astute, and compelling. Angela Johnson is a 10! I'd recommend it for adults of all ages (and their children too).

A gentle story from simpler times. A wonderful reminder of how life was before we all became "plugged in." This story is told in a way that also reminds us of the importance of staying in touch with our past. The story develops in a sensitive and powerful way. The writing poetic, the directing deliberate. I would enjoy seeing more films of this caliber. A simple story, sweetly told, one in which each person can in some way relate. No exploitation, violence, sex, greed, or death. For me, a true "breath of fresh air."

This film had an impact on me that is very different from what you generally see on the large screen or TV movies. The timing gave the impression of realism -- you felt you actually were there in the scenes. The story plot was appealing -- particularily to women in general -- the growth of a woman's own insight into her own development and independence. Finding it during the nurturing of a garden -- and with the reinforcing written inspirations from a distant elder, brings this young girl compounding insight. For myself gardening is one of the more spiritual, grounding activities one can do for oneself. Caroline Wood's beautifully written words gave this movie something quite unique. It was poetry in motion, believable and with an impactful messagel. In a time of so much violence, its quite refreshing to see a return to innocent and realistic romanticism.

THE IMMIGRANT GARDEN is a gem of independent filmmaking, gentle and literate and a joy to watch. The script is based on a play by the same name, and it's a standout. Very well-written. Tenderly drawn characters, an unselfconscious sense of humor and surprisingly good performances by unknown actors make this a real find -- hope it will find a wider audience!

...It is fleet but not in a hurry. It is a film about values without being self-conscious. It encourages us to think about how we feel.

What a beautiful film it is: Not an over-decorated "period" adaptation, but an intimate story simply told with humor and wisdom. The scenes are clear and lean against the richness of the setting, but they seem to flow leisurely through the story, and I was quite content to linger in their garden.

Although set in 1910, the story and the characters feel perfectly relevant today.

This film would represent a proud accomplishment by any standard, but particularly so in light of its unconventional and modest beginnings in the rural Pacific Northwest.

What I liked about this film was that it has something for everyone in the family. I could take my teenage children to this film and my parents and each of them would enjoy it. It's a gentle story that in very powerful ways expresses the importance of nurturing and caring. Respect is another strong part of this film, respecting the differences in ourselves and others and honoring that. The story is fresh and the music and the beautiful images makes for the kind of theatrical experience myself and a lot of my friends are hungry for.

The story content, so well interpreted by cast and director, take one into an era of great change in our country and the world, without any aggression or negative associations. The costumes, settings and photography are truly spectacular. I felt could have stepped into the screen and settled in comfortably. The explanation in the story of the "immigrant" garden is delightly done. I'd recommend this film for everyone who is tired of seeing bombings, murders, criminal actions, and violations of earth itself. This film was like a breath of fresh air and left me smiling.

This is a must see movie for those who love to have their hearts touch. A place you can go to reminisce of how it once was or what it might have been. It is so refreshing to see a movie without violence and sex. This is a show you can take the whole family to, with out covering Junior's eyes. Maybe a movie you can take your teenagers to, and both of you relate to what is going on. If you get the chance to see this move take it. My hat is off to those who worked so hard on this film. Especially the hot dude named Gabriel Hacker. Woah Mama

Seventeen year old Cecily Barnes learns about tolerance, friendship, and trust in this gentle 1910 drama's tale of written correspondence between herself and an elderly seed seller from England who talks with her flowers daily. Refreshing. Fun. Hopeful. Old Fashioned Story telling.

I never have been one for period family films (Tim Burton and Jerry Bruckhimer are my role models), but I have to say, this film was very well done. It has this "Anne of Green Gables" thing to it. Most of the family pieces I have seen are very predictable, but this one wasn't. I found it to be a very cute movie and, assuming it is available on video, is something I plan on giving my Mom on her birthday or Mother's day.

Hey this is a great film. I can't wait for the video to come out or for it to get onto the big screen for others to see. I really enjoyed the film because of the time frame that it chose to cover, the early 1900's. I really enjoyed that there was no cussing or sex within the film. I think that movies are good without that type of stuff within them. I encourage all to see this movie when it comes out because it is a great family film. We need to show that we support good clean movies like this film.

This was a must-see. It's almost unbelievable that so much talent came from such small towns. The story was very involving and was a great relief from the plotless Hollywood blockbusters. And sweet sassy malassy, the music was great. It really added to the story. I think it sets a standard for what movies could be.

I enjoyed seeing this film. Loved the countryside views. Family film, one you can bring the kids to. Loved the interplay between father, daughter and the boys at dinner scenes.

The director, C. Tad Devlin, utterly abused an entire town while filming this unwatchable little opus. Nobody was paid (despite promises and IOUs all over town), dozens of students were conscripted from the local populace, only to be screamed at and bullied by this deeply awful human being. He apparently financed it on Sears cameras he would film on and then return thanks to their unwisely generous return policy, and financed the most on every credit card he could beg, borrow or steal.

My own mother left the "premiere", after getting motion sickness from the cinematography. I left shortly thereafter, after realizing my previous goal to be a filmmaker would involve me continuing to deal with the dregs of humanity such as this. Now I'm in comic books.