A group of terrific actors and flavorful use of fresh Pacific Northwest locations makes “Evergreen” a nice surprise in the movie landscape.
And the locations in question? None other than Everett and nearby environs. A low-budget movie developed in part by the Sundance Institute, “Evergreen” was filmed in Everett last year by director Enid Zentelis, who grew up in Bellingham.
This is a coming-of-age story, and the adolescent heroine, Henri (short for Henrietta) is a familiar figure in this kind of movie. What’s new is her response to awkward growing pains.
Henri and her well-meaning but flaky mom (sad-eyed Cara Seymour) have just moved back with Grandma (Lynn Cohen) in a messy house. Mom takes up with a genial guy (Gary Farmer) who works at the Tulalip Casino dealing cards.
At her new school, Henri finds herself cruised by a rich boy, Chat (Noah Fleiss). She’s knocked over by the nice house he lives in, and by his generous parents (Bruce Davison and Mary Kay Place, both in fine form).
Henri is so enamored of their world, with its pink sofa and overstuffed pillows, she gloms onto it with disconcerting eagerness. The only problem is, this means she’ll not see this family might be unhappy in its own way.
“Evergreen” is a character study, and a gentle one. It does not build to giant conclusions, but it has an appreciation for people trying to get along in the world.
Enid Zentelis displays a keen sense of the telling detail, such as the way the rich folk make a ceremony, both exciting and anticlimactic, out of the lighting of Baked Alaska for dessert. The accumulation of such details makes you feel as though the world is being seen in a new, distinctive way – which is the job description of a film director.
She uses locations to tell the story, not to provide nice scenery. So the city (never named, I think) around Henri becomes a backdrop of waterfront and lumber, before which she plays out the traumas of adolescence.
Zentelis also does well with the actors, and the movie is carried by the terrific performance of newcomer Addie Land, who plays Henri. Land has been involved in the Seattle Children’s Theatre, and delivers a completely natural, pensive performance in the middle of an experienced group of actors. Which means this is a movie of two impressive debuts.
“Evergreen” HHH
Filmed in Everett: The familiar coming-of-age story, given a good treatment by a memorable young heroine (played by newcomer Addie Land) and a new setting. Director Enid Zentelis has an eye for telling detail, and the rest of the cast is strong.
Rated: PG-13 rating is for subject matter.
Now showing: tk
“Evergreen” HHH
Filmed in Everett: The familiar coming-of-age story, given a good treatment by a memorable young heroine (played by newcomer Addie Land) and a new setting. Director Enid Zentelis has an eye for telling detail, and the rest of the cast is strong.
Rated: PG-13 rating is for subject matter.
Now showing: Pacific Place.
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