White Oleander

2002 • 109 minutes

About this movie

A harrowing, coming-of-age story based on the best selling novel by Janet Fitch. Twelve-year-old Astrid (Alison Lohman "The Thirteenth Floor," TV's "Pasadena") shares an idyllic life with her mother Ingrid (Oscar-nominated Michelle Pfeiffer "I Am Sam," "What Lies Beneath"), a beautiful and free-spirited artist. When her mom is suddenly sent to prison for life for committing a crime of passion, Astrid is set adrift in the world. Alone to struggle to become her own person, she goes through foster home after foster home experiencing forbidden love, religion, near-death experiences, drugs, starvation and how it feels to be loved.

Ratings and reviews

I have NOT read the book. That being said - I really, REALLY liked this movie. I’m always amazed when I find a movie like this and I wonder why I didn’t see or hear about it when it came out as it has an amazing cast. I love ‘coming of age’ stories. Obviously many other older people like them as well. Maybe it helps us feel better about the choices we made as teens and young adults. I’m going to read the book as soon as I can. I’m hoping I still like the movie when I’m done reading it. However, IMO this movie stands well on its own. It’s a beautiful, frightening, colorful story. It dramatically mirrors the story of very few people in the real world reminding most of us that our teen years weren’t so bad. I love how it seductively tells a truly hellish tale of a very young girl who is beautiful and complex yet still a lump of clay needing and wanting to be shaped and formed but not having a stable family life to do so. I think this movie is definitely worth a watch - even if you have to rent it. <3

Horrible in compare to the book. I typically enjoy the movie more and will often cancel plans to or even abort reading a novel if I hear a movie is coming out. Very disappointing throughout.

White Oleander Is One Of The Best Films Of The Year! Based On The Best Selling Novel! From The Producers Of Donnie Darko and A Walk To Remember #WhiteOleander