War Flowers (2012)

Christina Ricci plays Sarabeth Elllis, a Southerner trying desperately to survive the Civil War with her daughter Melody.

Since the war started, she’s already lost an infant son to the fever. She dreams that her husband has been killed too, though she desperately needs him to return home.

Jason Gedrick plays Louis McIntire, a Union cavalry officer fighting less for the Northern cause and more to avenge the deaths of his two brothers at Antietam. His father, Gen. McIntire (Tom Berenger) orders him to a post in Philadelphia to ensure one son survives the war.

Louis balks, of course, and winds up severely wounded in a skirmish at the Ellis farm. Sarabeth finds herself nursing him back to health as her hope of her husband’s return dims, and as she and her daughter are endangered by Southern scavengers as well as the Northern advance.

Review:

Well-intentioned film about the struggles of a Southern woman trying to survive the closing months of the Civil War. But it has way too many flaws to be successful. And it doesn’t help that you can probably guess the plot about 10 minutes in.

Among the flaws: Action scenes that look anything but authentic and feature aging, overweight re-enactors. Dream sequences guided by Sarabeth’s eternally optimistic 7-year-old daughter. And character responses that simply defy logic. Twice, with battle raging around her farmhouse, Sarabeth grabs Melody’s hands, running outside and through the middle of the skirmish.

Jason Gedrick makes for a ruggedly handsome leading man. Christina Ricci does what she can with her part. Scott Michael Campbell might turn in the best role as the Confederate scavenger who harasses Sarabeth.

Speaking of aging and overweight, Tom Berenger’s role is a supporting one, despite his top billing.

Ricci, by the way, made her screen debut at age 9 in “Mermaids” (1990). Winona Ryder played her older sister; Cher played her mother. She’d go on to star in a number of movies as a child, including “Casper” (1995) and a pair of Addams Family films (1991 and 1993).

Directed by:
Serge Rodnunsky

Cast:
Jason Gedrick … Louis McIntire
Christina Ricci … Sarabeth Ellis
Gabriellla Popa … Melody Ellis
Tom Berenger … Gen. McIntire
Bren Foster … John Ellis
Kurt Yaeger … Rufus
Scott Michael Campbell … Tim
Diane Hill … Miss Caroline
Jordyn Thomas … Effie

Score: Evan Evans

Runtime: 99 min.

Memorable lines:

Gen McIntire, to his son Louis: “I will awake tomorrow and fight with every fiber of my soul to end this horrible war. But you will live. I command it.”

Miss Caroline: “How is your mother, dear.”
Young Melody Ellis, unaware of the tragic news a letter can bring during war: “She’s fine. Cept she gets very upset if we get letters.”

Rufus: “I was wondering if you needed any help. Or neighborly companionship.”
Sarabeth Ellis: “You ain’t nothing but a no-good, lying, drinking scoundrel. And another mouth to feed. It’s hard enough as it is. So no thank you.”

Gen. McIntire, about the Union cause: “I will not give all my boys. Not all my boys. It’s too much.”