White Oleander (DVD, 2003, Full Frame)

This multi-starred movie that is the movie version of the Oprah book club selection is a wake up call for our foster care system in the United States.

Poor Astrid (Alison Lohman), a pre-teen, who was her mother's (Michelle Pfeiffer) confidante and best friend, witnessed her mother killing her boyfriend. From that point on and even before, Astrid's life is a mess. Here is a summary of the foster homes where she was placed:

(1) Robin Wright Penn played the first foster mother. She is a born again Christian who is living with an atheist boyfriend, who is pretty normal. She has 2 other children of different ethnic groups and also another teen daughter. She dresses like a prostitute and eventually accuses Astrid of trying to steal her man. And finally she shoots Astrid.

(2) The second was a foster facility dormitory where there is constant fighting, accusations, and jealousy among the teen residents.

(3) Next was the best foster home composed of a married couple--Renee Zellweger and Noah Wyle (he's on ER, the TV show). He travels all the time and Astrid becomes the best friend of Claire (Zellweger). It is a wonderful experience for Astrid until the husband leaves Claire for good. You will have to see what happens next yourself.

(4) Finally there is a foster mother who appears to be a madame of a brothel, but I don't think that she really was. She just dressed like it and only foster-mothered teen girls. As a result of this experience, Astrid dyes her lovely blonde hair jet black and completely becomes a replica of Morticia of the Addams Family.

Throughout all of this, Astrid's mother is directing her daughter from prison. She poisons Astrid like oleander and eventually turns her daughter away from her forever. Astrid finally finds some happiness and the movie ends.

Looking at this movie should be a wake up call for all of our cities foster care directors. How can such incompetent, weird, and disturbed people be fostering children who already have difficult problem?

This movie is a little saner than "Running With Scissors," its closest related movie that I know of. Both movies give sane adults a lot to think about in regard to the future of our country.

I originally saw this movie on cable and fell in love with it the first time I watched it. The story line is a bit dark and twisted but flows wonderfully. Michelle Pfeiffer is excellent in her role as Astrid's mother. A beautiful but very disturbed woman who is jailed for murder. The movie follows what happened to Astrid as she goes from foster home to foster home. Renee Zellweger and Robin Wright Penn play two of the foster mothers and do an excellent job.

All in all, this movie keeps your attention as you watch a 15 year old girl try to make her way in the world. It makes you laugh and cry and the ending is amazing.

I loved the DVD of White Oleander, but I read the book first and that made it clearer to follow the story line. The book gave insight into what the girl was thinking. I decided to buy it because I have 3 grown daughters and my oldest suggested it....it really was a powerful story about the relationship between a mother and daughter. I would highly recommend it to every mother who has daughters that they have relationship problems with.

This is a great movie, about a young girl who is in and out of foster homes because her mother is sent to prison. The girl suffers for what her mother has done. In the end the girl grows up and is released from foster care. I liked this movie because it shows how kids in real life go through in foster care. IT is a really great movie, its kind of sad, but its a really great drama movie to watch.

This movie is an excellent portrayal of what can happen to kid's in the foster/state care system. Also, show parents how every one of our decisions greatly affect our children's lives. The acting in this movie was spectacular and had some really good actors/actresses in it. Had a little bit of everything in it...romance, parent/child relationships, life hardships and how to rise above our beginnings. Love this movie.