Fireflies in the Garden

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Fireflies in the Garden

R

2011

1h 38m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

21%

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52 Reviews

45%

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25,000+ Ratings

Successful novelist Michael (Ryan Reynolds) visits his family in the Midwest, only to learn that his mother, Lisa (Julia Roberts), has died in a tragic accident. Along with his father, Charles (Willem Dafoe), a college professor, and his sister, Ryne (Shannon Lucio), Michael attempts to come to terms with his grief. Lisa's absence revives many old wounds, however, and the emerging tensions threaten to destroy the family just as they make an effort to come together and mourn.

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Critics Consensus

Despite boasting a stellar cast, Fireflies in the Garden is just tedious, dull and predictable melodrama. Instantly forgettable.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/29/2018

One of those dysfunctional family melodramas in which a dysfunctional family gets all melodramatic, and here is what I would say to this family if I could: "Get over it or, failing that, go away and bother someone else."

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

10/20/2011

This histrionic family drama must have looked good on paper to attract such a big-name cast, but on the screen it comes off as glib, rushed, and underdeveloped.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

10/14/2011

1/5

This locally shot weeper is unhappy in myriad ways, few of which manage to coalesce around its heart-stung core.

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Nikki Baughan

Roll Credits

10/30/2019

3/5

The strength of Fireflies in the Garden undoubtedly lies in its casting, although [Dennis] Lee directs his starry cast with confidence and flair and this should lead on to bigger and better things for the young film-maker.

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S. Jhoanna Robledo

Common Sense Media

02/29/2012

2/5

Uneven drama about unhappy family, including tragedy.

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David Noh

Film Journal International

10/14/2011

Julia Roberts plays ultra-sensitive artiste Ryan Reynolds' noble mother-and that should basically tell you all you need to know about this misguided soapy bunch of bollocks which somehow made its way off the shelf into theatres.

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Dani G

@RT81139271 05/19/2025

Lacking of a punch. They tried to, but nah

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Julian S

@akajulianscott 08/29/2024

A poignant and sometimes shocking tale of family dysfunction and tragedy, featuring a strong cast mostly playing against type.

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Carole G

@RT58667912 09/15/2022

I don't undrstand the ending? So much trauma all forgiven because of one home video? Willem DeFoe gives a brilliant performance as a right pr**k but this is all undercut because of IDKW? Maybe there's a version withan alternate ending that makes sense... like DeFoe's character is exposed in a novel and goes to jail for child abuse.

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Jason L

@JL4952 08/29/2021

What a mess of a movie. WHY was the father such an abusive a-hole, just one of many questions that go unanswered as you try to follow the bizarro jumping back and forth and who is who. Showing once again that just because a movie has an amazing cast it can still be a bomb.

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08/21/2021

Une belle mais triste histoire qui te rappelle que l'on a tous une famille dysfonctionnelle...

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steve d

@RT35616104 06/22/2020

Despite its incredible cast the script does nothing with them, giving us an extremely slow moving film.

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Dennis Lee

Director

Julia Roberts

Lisa

Ryan Reynolds

Michael

Willem Dafoe

Charles

Emily Watson

Jane Lawrence

Carrie-Anne Moss

Kelly

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Synopsis

Successful novelist Michael (Ryan Reynolds) visits his family in the Midwest, only to learn that his mother, Lisa (Julia Roberts), has died in a tragic accident. Along with his father, Charles (Willem Dafoe), a college professor, and his sister, Ryne (Shannon Lucio), Michael attempts to come to terms with his grief. Lisa's absence revives many old wounds, however, and the emerging tensions threaten to destroy the family just as they make an effort to come together and mourn.

Director: Dennis Lee
Producer: Marco Weber, Sukee Chew, Vanessa Coifman
Screenwriter: Dennis Lee
Distributor: FSI
Production Co: Senator Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.6K
Runtime: 1h 38m