Roman American Janet Fitch very quickly gained popularity and became a bestseller. Love and murderous hatred intertwined in it, the teenage struggle for independence and the desire to find a cozy home. Yes, yes, it was intertwined, like branches of a shrub, in whose honor the book is called.
Caution: poison!
White oleanders (sometimes not white but pink) are not uncommon in the subtropics. Luxurious, with an inviting smell of flowers, representatives of this plant in the "domesticated" version can often be found in indoor "oases" among lovers of decorative flora. You need to be on guard with these beauties, because their juice is poisonous, it contains substances that can cause serious harm to health and even kill. The cardiac glycosides that make up the flower are used in pharmacology; in case of an overdose, they cause cardiac arrest. The main characters of Fitch’s novel, Magnussen’s mother and daughter, are very similar, they themselves, with their Scandinavian appearance, with blond hair fluttering in the dry south wind like white oleanders, are just as beautiful and dangerous. The poetess Ingrid alone raises her daughter Astrid. Once the eldest Magnussen had the imprudence to fall in love with the wrong person: he left her, for which he was cruelly punished. White oleanders served as a source of poison, which Ingrid poisoned Barry, who betrayed her. Since the arrest of his mother, a series of misadventures began Astrid.
"Constellation" actresses
Based on the book, a drama of the same name was shot in 2002. The film "White Oleander" has assembled a constellation of wonderful actresses. In the duo, mother-daughter shines with a charmingly cold Michelle Pfeiffer and already mature enough for her role (she is over 20, and plays a 15-year-old), but convincing Alison Loman. At the beginning of the picture, they are so similar to each other, but as Astrid develops, loving mother and suffering because of her detachment, struggles to “budge” and become different - at least outwardly. One jealous guardian of the Starr girl was played by Robin Wright (fans of Santa Barbara fell in love with this actress for the role of Kelly), another adoptive mother, the one who so wanted to become Astrid's native, but ended tragically, Claire is Renee Zellweger (she is better known for her comedic roles like Bridget Jones).
Looking for yourself
Absolutely all adult female characters of the drama are a kind of white oleanders. Starr wishes the death of the ward girl, Claire herself is trying to poison herself because of the indifference of her husband, well, and Ingrid has already done away with her former lover. Between them, the fragile soul of Astrid rushes about. She is looking for tenderness, peace of mind. But her mother is behind bars, and the girl herself is thrown from family to family, like a stray dog. How to find yourself, to become higher than circumstances, not to slide into the abyss? This is narrated by the White Oleander. Reviews from critics and viewers were mixed. Someone was disappointed with the film adaptation of the book, someone found the tape boring and prolonged-depressing. But the drama Ingrid, who imprisoned his heart in the ice shell, whose deeds the minor daughter pays for, and, of course, thorns and thorns - all that the girl herself went through cannot help but touch.