Grow your own

Gnome missed this film when it was released in June. It was so unpopular at the cinema that they pulled it within the first week. Why they did not think of putting it out on television soon after, during the growing season is a mystery.

The film is not great but it has a great story line and some good regular actors who turn in a gentle and humourous performance. The script is sparse but tells the story. It's almost theatrical and it would translate to a stage performance quite effectively.

The story is outlined in this Channel 4 film review. Pete Bradshaw in the Guardian did not like it that much and thought it was a bit twee (if Gnomes memory serves him right). But then it follows in the tradition of the well scripted Ealing comedy dramas and the more recent Gregory's Girl type film.

With nothing worth watching on television midweek it was worth sitting down to watch the film on dvd. It is a well crafted film with editing that supports the story. The characters are exactly as you would find on most allotments so it was well observed. The antics of the president and the running of the committee were pretty accurate also. A good re-inforcement about staying well away from allotment committees. Using the analogy of allotment life and the healing process that it offers, together with its clever use in real life Liverpool for the therapeutic recovery of asylum seekers, is its strong point. There is vivid colour and music that has been chosen well.

All in all it was a nice film, not memorable but worth watching if you want to see potential stereotypes of yourselves if you have a plot. You can get a flavour of it on the film's official website.