Review: Day of the Flowers

Eva Birthistle and Charity Wakefield in Day of the Flowers

Day of the Flowers is a Scottish production about two sisters who go to Cuba to scatter their father’s ashes. It was released in 2012 and recently made its way to streaming services.

With two leading women – Eva Birthistle as Rosa and Charity Wakefield as Ailie – this movie looked like a good bet. Plus, it was written by a woman (Eirene Houston) and starred real Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta.

The basic premise is that Rosa and Ailie’s parents visited Cuba often. When dad dies, Rosa decided his ashes need to be spread in the place he loved most: Cuba. Ailie tags along, as well as Rosa’s friend Conway (Bryan Dick).

Most of the film was shot in Cuba with its glorious colors and music, and quite a lot of its grime and grift. You get the charming Scottish accents, the wonderous Cuban music and dancers, and the attempt to scatter the ashes on the Day of the Flowers.

The three Scots on this journey are a mismatched bunch, despite the fact that Rosa and Ailie are sisters. They get up to all sorts of strange things in Cuba, especially Rosa.

Carlos Acosta in Day of the Flowers

Luckily Tomas, tour guide and dance instructor with a kind heart, is there to rescue Rosa from herself. He also helps her learn some things about her parents and their past.

Despite its promise, Day of the Flowers was not a great film, even though it was enjoyable. There were inexplicable turns in the plot and the acting was spotty. Big points for the music, however. I especially enjoyed the location.

Day of the Flowers is available on Amazon Video.

 

4 thoughts on “Review: Day of the Flowers”

  1. A beautiful premise for a story, even though the end result seemed to disappoint! I have just looked through your archives, wondering if you have reviewed “Tully” yet, but didn’t find it. Hope you do post a review of it. I have just seen it, and had mixed feelings about it. Theron, of course, was amazing!

      1. A bit. Maybe it’s just that directing isn’t as clear cut as it used to be. As a special education teacher, for example, it was never clear how the boy’s handicap was handled, or if anything was ever resolved in this family, except, perhaps, that the couple decided to keep the marriage going.

  2. Pingback: So Many Great Foreign Films and TV in English - Old Ain't Dead

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