Charity's Place

WHITE OLEANDER

REVIEWED BY SCARLETT POWELL

Our rating: 1 out of 5

Because of: anti-religious elements, sexual content, profanity

Rated:

I've had some practice studying dysfunctional relationships, and scarred families. There are many more out there than you might imagine, particularly among fatherless girls. This is where White Oleander hits hard: less-than-perfect and sometimes downright awful homes. If you come from a shaky family, or know someone that does, you'll probably be able to understand the underlining current of the story. If not, then I'd choose another film: this one is dark, depressing, and abuses the PG13 rating with topics that just aren't talked about in polite company. As a study of how a life can be ruined without the loving acceptance of Jesus Christ, White Oleander is a how-to kind of film that leaves you with a saddened heart.

Oleanders are one of the most deadly flowers on the face of the earth. They are a symbol of tarnished purity, and the deepest hatred imaginable. Like the poisonous flower, so is Ingrid, a beautiful artist who carries a poison beneath her ethereal skin. A free-thinker and woman of both grace and talent, the only person she fails to convince of her stability is her daughter, Astrid. Her ideals of men have been badly shaken throughout many wobbly relationships. Yet when opportunity presents itself, Ingrid steps into yet another momentary lover's affair... little realizing the events that she herself will set in motion.

When the lover spurns her for another, Ingrid's jealousy turns murderous. Unwilling to accept her mate's wandering eye, she commits a foul crime... and the result sends her and her daughter whirling into a dangerous world of consequences. Astrid is placed into foster care, and Ingrid faces a lengthy prison sentence. But as Astrid grows to realize who her mother truly is, she must struggle to free herself from the woman's grasp, for Ingrid does not care whom she drags down with her... or who she hurts along the way. Mother and daughter are two separate beings... two alternate forces, bound only by birth. Or are they? Can Astrid find love, compassion, and loyalty in the new Christian family that she is placed with? Or is this life, too, like everything else, a facade ... a beautiful mantle covering something hideous and ugly? Is life meaningless... or is there a purpose in all things?

At the word 'Christian,' many ears pricked up. But you must realize first and foremost that this film has one of the most anti-religious undercurrents that I have ever seen. The first 'Christian' we meet is Robin Wright, a stripper-turned-alcoholic-turned-hypocrite living with her married lover, who drinks herself into oblivion, forces Astrid to join the church, turns violent in an instant, and swears like a sailor. it is merely one of many faith-bashing statements; the other foster homes that she is placed with aren't much better... at least most of them don't even pretend to be religious. Ingrid herself rants against the redeeming blood of the lamb, and uses the f-word to show her hatred for "Bible-thumping white trash." Throughout the film, Astrid attempts to free herself from her mother's overpowering influence. As we watch her struggle, we realize how truly bewitching Ingrid is. Michelle Pfeiffer turns in a phenomenal performance. Both beautiful and intelligent, the woman is riveting, captivating while being utterly despicable. The audience, too, feels trapped and intimidated by her.

It only goes to show that sin is all-empowering; lust and jealousy the deadliest of poisons... and beauty is only skin deep. That is perhaps the most valuable lesson White Oleander has to offer. The remainder of the film is tied up in foul language, sexual content, drugs and alcohol, and occasional violence. The film relies heavily on flaunting women's bodies to get its point across, with scanty clothing, a peek into the ladies' dressing room, and plenty of cleavage. Robin Wright's character and her boyfriend 'go at it' in the next room, in which the audience is subjected to a lot of graphic sound effects. Astrid is also accused of having an affair with her foster mother's boyfriend; whether she is or not remains unclear. Violence is heavy, with dysfunctional foster homes in which characters are slapped around, beaten, and shot at. A knife is used to threaten someone. Profanity is moderate, with heavy abuse of deity and one f-word. Anatomical references abound.

The content quota is enough to keep most sensitive viewers away. But even if you're not turned aside by the heavy issues at debate, the concerning emphasis on an anti-Christian agenda should warn even the most lenient of viewers from even considering it.