Themes: Underdogs, Going Straight, Class Differences
Main Cast: Clive Owen, David Kelly, Helen Mirren, Warren Clarke, Natasha Little, Danny Dyer
Release Year: 2000
Country: UK/US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A fish-out-of-water comedy in the vein of 1997's oft-imitated The Full Monty, Greenfingers takes as its inspiration the true story of a group of British criminals who bettered themselves through the delicate art of gardening. Croupier's Clive Owen plays Colin Briggs, a taciturn inmate doing time for murder. When it's suggested he transfer to a minimum-security prison, Colin is reluctant; at the idyllic Edgefield compound, he's slow to warm to his gregarious, botanically inclined roomie Fergus (Waking Ned Devine's David Kelly). When the warden forces Colin and his prison mates to cultivate the prison's grounds, however, the men decide it's a fate better than mopping the lavatory, and begin to take pride in their work. Their stellar efforts attract the attention of haughty celebrity gardener Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren), who arranges furlough work for the men. Colin becomes particularly fervent with his bulbs and seeds, not to mention his affection for Georgina's daughter Primrose (Natasha Little). When he's offered the chance to go straight, Colin is torn between the freedom of the outside world and the comforts of his lockup flowerbed. Greenfingers made its North American premiere at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival before making the U.S. festival rounds. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
Adam Fogerty - Raw; Paterson Joseph - Jimmy; Peter Guinness - Dudley
Credit
Neesh Ruben - Art Director, Michelle Guish - Casting, Frances Tempest - Costume Designer, David Daniels - First Assistant Director, Joel Hershman - Director, Justin Krish - Editor, Trudie Styler - Executive Producer, Daniel J. Victor - Executive Producer, Tim Hutchinson - Production Designer, John Daly - Cinematographer, Travis Swords - Producer, Daniel J. Victor - Producer, Derek Norman - Sound/Sound Designer, Joel Hershman - Screenwriter
Greenfingers is a 2000filmdirected by Joel Hershman. It is loosely based on a true story about the award-winning prisoners of HMP Leyhill, a minimum-security prison in the Cotswolds, England.[1]
When Colin Briggs is placed in an experimental program to finish off his prison sentence, all he wants is peace and quiet. But after his wise, elderly roommate Fergus introduces him to gardening, Colin uncovers a talent and passion for plants. Teaming up with his fellow inmates, Colin gets the attention of celebrated gardener Georgina Woodhouse. Soon, the unexpected gardeners are preparing to compete for England's highset flower show award, the Hampton Court Flower Show. And when Colin meets Georgina's beautiful daughter Primrose, he discovers another reason to fight for his freedom: true love.
