Fireflies in the Garden

Directors: Denis Lee

Actors: Julia Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Willem Defoe, Emily Watson, Iaon Gruffudd, Hayden Pannettiere

Running Time: 99mins

Consumer Advice: Contains strong language

As Michael Taylor (Ryan Reynolds) wings his way cross country to attend a family celebration in his Midwestern hometown, the realities of his adult life—a teetering marriage and a less than lofty, if prolific, career as a romance novelist—crowd his thoughts, along with decades-old memories of angry conflict with his overly-demanding father (Willem Dafoe). Not even the hushed request by an admiring flight attendant for his autograph can distract him from the dread he feels, anticipating a week of strained conversation and forced gaiety that await him at home. The only mitigating factor is the opportunity to see his Aunt Jane (Emily Watson), his mother’s younger sister and co-conspirator in his youthful rebellions.

Upon arrival, Michael faces an entirely different scenario. As he and younger sister Ryne (Shannon Lucio) struggle to connect during the drive from the airport to their childhood home, they come upon the scene of a car accident that has taken the life of their mother, Lisa (Julia Roberts) in the prime of her life. Funeral plans replace the graduation celebration, and as he mourns his mother, Michael must come to grips with his fractured relationship with his father. Despite her absence, Michael learns more about his mother, forges closer relationships with his wife, sister and aunt, and in the process, gains a greater understanding of what it means to love as an adult.