This movie is very helpful in understanding people, why we all are the way we are. Each character is extremely well acted and leaves the viewer understanding them, and feeling deeply for them. As the film progresses, we are moving with them in their situations,and begin to understand why we all do things that seem to be just not the way we thought they would go. The scenery and setting all tell the story beautifully, and the ending is brought together perfectly to leave us with a feeling of everything can be whatever we can make it to be. Sadness, guilt, relief, all the feelings we all experience every day. All brought together wonderfully in this great film. This is one of those films that makes us remember what it was like to be a child, what we became as adults, as we learned to judge ourselves and others, how it is to see loved ones hurt and to feel loss. I was greatly surprised by everyone in this film, because I initially watched it because I admire Juliette Lewis, and she is tremendous in this film, but everyone else matches her. This is one of those films that stays with you, and makes you want to watch it over and over.

I don't believe I've ever seen Juliette Lewis (JL) in a movie before so this was a good way to be introduced to her. I agree with the other comments about her doing well with her voice-I could just listen to her speak (kind of like how I feel about enjoying the way the British, Australians,and New Zealanders speak no matter what they are talking about). I found it was kind of like Anne of Green Gables (AGG) as well since the little girl in the movie who did some great acting wants to be known as Anne when she is in Baton Rouge is in order to "reinvent herself" like her aunt says. She did have a tomboy, tough side to her like Anne Shirley, and her grandmother did seem to be like the woman who takes in Anne to live with her and Matthew on the farm in AGG. She definitely isn't up to the acting talent of Megan Follows (where is she now-I'd love to see her in more movies) but still she does a commendable job. I think the woman that played the girl's mother in this movie was quite believable as a woman who had some mental difficulties. At the beginning I was wondering if the sister who had gone on to better things would be kind of prissy to everyone like she was overly glad to get out of the little farm area but I was pleasantly surprised to see that she was very gentle, kind, and loving to all. I would have liked to know exactly what her job was as she was referred to as a "working girl" from Magnolia, but what did she actually do that made her afford having someone take of the house, how she can have such a great car, clothes, and even mention putting Anne in a private school someday. That was the only question mark I found in the movie and I was glad to see the father be seen as a smart (yet slow) guy when he helped protect the plants at the nursery. Another part of the storyline I think they could have expanded on is having the father's boss congratulate him of making wise choices in regards to the plants when the big storm hit-he mentions he wants him to take of things but it would have been nice to have closure w/the boss coming back to say thanks for all his help.

This is a winning and whimsical tale of a girl coming-of-age in rural Louisiana in the 1950's. Kelsey Keel has a winning debut as Tiger Ann, the central character. And her chemistries in the three main relationships with her grandmother (Shirley Knight), retarded mother (Amelia Campbell), and sophisticated aunt (Juliette Lewis) are superb. The costumes are delicious. And the emotions are genuine. Adam Arkin does a great job getting an honest salt-of-the-Earth feel from building a brilliantly realized Canadian abstraction of the time and place. This is one movie worth watching even if you already read the book.

I might be completely biased because Kelsey Keel is a local girl from my neck of the woods who went to high school across the street from me, but she is superb in this film. After winning two Awards for her work in this film (a Daytime Emmy and a Young Artist Award), I hope she continues to find work in films and ages with grace and maturity on-screen. Juliette Lewis and Shirley Knight provide able support, but the fact that the entire film is shown from Tiger Ann's point of view only provides Keel with some magnificent characterization and plenty of screentime that should have earned her star billing. Magnificent coming of age story that should be seen by audience members of all ages that suffers from being shown on ShowTime and seeing a less than adequate home video release.