Taglines: Where does a mother end and a daughter begin?
White Oleander movie storyline. Astrid Magnussen is a 15 year old girl, living in California. Her mother, Ingrid, is a beautiful, free-spirited poet. Their life, though unusual, is satisfying until one day, a man named Barry Kolker (that her mother refers to at first as “The goat man”) comes into their lives, and Ingrid falls madly in love with him, only to have her heart broken, and her life ruined. For revenge, Ingrid murders Barry with the deadly poison of her favourite flower: The White Oleander. She is sent to prison for life, and Astrid has to go through foster home after foster home.
Throughout nearly a decade she experiences forbidden love, religion, near-death experiences, drugs, starvation, and how it feels to be loved. But throughout these years, she keeps in touch with her mother via letters to prison. And while Ingrid’s gift is to give Astrid the power to survive, Astrid’s gift is to teach her Mother about love.
White Oleander is a 2002 American drama film directed by Peter Kosminsky. The cast stars Alison Lohman in the central role of Astrid Magnussen and Michelle Pfeiffer as her temperamental mother Ingrid, with Robin Wright Penn, Alison Lohman, John Billingsley, Amy Aquino, Sam Catlin, Debra Christofferson, Svetlana Efremova and Billy Connolly in supporting roles. The screenplay was adapted from Janet Fitch’s 1999 novel White Oleander, which was selected for Oprah’s Book Club in May 1999.
Barbra Streisand turned down offers to direct the film and play Ingrid Magnussen. Alison Lohman wore a wig throughout filming because she had just finished playing a cancer patient in deleted scenes from the film Dragonfly (2002). The film clip Claire (Renée Zellweger) shows Astrid as an example of her acting career is of Zellweger’s own early performance in The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994).
About the Story
15 year-old Astrid Magnussen (Alison Lohman) is living in Los Angeles with her mother, the free-spirited artist Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer). Since her father left before she was old enough to remember him, Astrid depends heavily upon the care of her passionate but largely self-centered mother.
Ingrid’s current relationship with a writer named Barry (Billy Connolly) ends when she discovers he is cheating on her with younger women. Ingrid murders him with a poison made from white oleander. Ingrid is arrested and sentenced to life in prison, leaving Astrid under the care of the state of California.
Astrid is sent to live with foster mother Starr Thomas (Robin Wright), a former stripper who is a recovering alcoholic and born-again Christian. They initially interact well, with Astrid being baptised into Starr’s church. However, Ingrid is appalled at her conversion and subtly manipulates Astrid against her foster family. Astrid begins an affair with Starr’s live in boyfriend Ray (Cole Hauser), which drives Starr into drinking again. After a loud argument with him, she runs into Astrid’s room in a drunken rage and shoots her in the shoulder. The other children beg her not to tell who shot her, so Astrid pretends she has no clue.
Astrid spends some time recovering in a hospital before being moved to a violent group foster home. After fighting with some girls, she strikes up a friendship with fellow artist Paul Trout (Patrick Fugit). Eventually, Astrid is placed in the care of Claire Richards (Renée Zellweger), a former actress, and her producer husband Mark (Noah Wyle). Claire is a sweet, affectionate woman who forms a close bond with Astrid.
One day, Astrid comes home to find a letter from her mother to Claire. She confronts Claire only to find out that it has been going on for a while and that they plan on meeting. Claire accompanies Astrid on a visit to Ingrid in prison. The jealous Ingrid exploits Claire’s low self-esteem and suspicions over Mark’s fidelity, much to Astrid’s outrage. During a bad argument with Mark, she agrees to send Astrid back to try and save her marriage. After a tender conversation where they cuddled in bed together, Claire unexpectedly commits suicide, devastating Astrid.
Astrid visits her mother to inform her of Claire’s death, that she was returned to MAC and that she will never visit her again. Paul is still there and tells her that when he turns 18 that weekend he will move to New York. He asks Astrid to accompany him but she refuses.
Astrid passes up better foster parent candidates and chooses to live with a Russian immigrant, Rena (Svetlana Efremova), who treats her foster children as cheap laborers for her swap meet business. During her time with Rena, she becomes colder and colder with her appearance matching her insides. She is approached by her mother’s attorney (Kali Rocha), a woman taken in by her mother’s charm. She offers Astrid anything she wants in exchange for lying for her mother in court since her mother has benefactors. After refusing, Rena tells her that she’s stupid to do so since a car and art school cost money. She then offers her to be her partner in their business since she has nowhere better to go. When Astrid refuses, Rena tells her to use her mother like her mother wants to use her.
White Oleander (2002)
Directed by: Peter Kosminsky
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zelwegger, Robin Wright Penn, Alison Lohman, John Billingsley, Amy Aquino, Sam Catlin, Debra Christofferson, Svetlana Efremova, Billy Connolly
Screenplay by: Janet Fitch, Mary Agnes Donoghue
Production Design by: Donald Graham Burt
Cinematography by: Elliot Davis
Film Editing by: Chris Ridsdale
Costume Design by: Susie DeSanto
Set Decoration by: Bryony Foster
Art Direction by: Anthony R. Stabley
Makeup Department: Alan D’Angerio, Monica Di Venti
Music by: Thomas Newman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements concerning dysfunctional relationships, drug content, language, sexuality and violence.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: October 11, 2002
Views: 237
