The Cement Garden

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Film Description

This adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel is a disturbing tale of childhood survival in a moral wasteland. Fearing foster homes and adoption, four recently orphaned siblings decide to keep their mother's death a secret, burying her in a cement locker in the basement.

The Lolita-like Julie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), quickly adapts to the role of surrogate mother, caring for the younger children and picking up a boyfriend. 15 year-old Jack, however, is only concerned with his developing sexuality and his increasing infatuation with his sister.

When the intrusive curiosity of Julie's boyfriend threatens to expose their secret, Jack finally assumes the mature role of family protector. As he slowly wins Julie's respect, their gentle flirtation results in a forbidden consummation. Fraught with sexual tension and suspense, The Cement Garden is a chilling look at unrestrained adolescent desire.

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Review by Peter Wild on 3rd June 2008

Although Ian McEwan is these days held to be the greatest living English writer, there was a time when McEwan was an altogether darker creature, fashioning novels like The Cement Garden in which a somewhat dysfunctional family give rise to sibling incest.

Andrew Birkin’s brooding and brilliant adaptation of this book, first released in 1994, is well worth a look, as there are so many things he gets absolutely spot on: from the sensuous, lingering camera eye (the dripping tap, the ants burrowing up through the crack in the concrete) to the terrific performances he draws from his cast (a young Charlotte Gainsbourg in particular), here is a movie adaptation created by someone who quite patently got the book.

If your only knowledge of Ian McEwan is Atonement, as good as Atonement is, you really need to check out The Cement Garden. Not only is it very simply a great movie, it will provide slightly outré conversational fodder for the next dinner party you throw…

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Review by Vorontsov Pavel on 2nd May 2000

Infanity, incest, perversions...Seems cannot make a movie attractive but he made it! Andrew Birkin's The Cement Garden worth watching 'cos the story could happen to your neighbour or to your relative! Don get hesitated when something happens, act! Or you'll find yourself in that situation when there are no borders dividing you from an animal. Be human!
It is dirty but if you are not sticky it is great!

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