PETALS ON THE WIND

US, 2014, 85 minutes, Colour.
Rose Mc Iver, Wyatt Nash, Bailey de Young, Heather Graham, Ellen Bursteyn, Will Kemp, Dylan Bruce.
Directed by Karen Moncrieff.

Petals on the Wind is the sequel to V.C.Andrews’ novel, Flowers in the Attic. Flowers was filmed in 1987 with Louise Fletcher and Victoria Tennant as the mother and daughter. It was re-made in 2014 with Ellen Burstyn and Heather Graham as mother and daughter.

The story takes up 10 years after the escape of the children from the attic.They have been found by a kindly black servant at the bus stop and taking into the care of a doctor with them them up and educated them well. The film opens at his funeral

Chris is the trainee doctor. Cathy is a ballet student. Carrie is at school, where she is bullied and mocked, especially about her doll. In the meantime, the medical instructor’s daughter is infatuated with Chris and eventually they become engaged. The one of the ballet instructor is attracted to Cathy and offers the opportunity to train in New York. However, he is jealous and also takes advantage of Carrie when she comes to stay.

Their mother has married and is very rich, remodelling the old house. She also clashes with her mother, who is old, ill and still religiously condemning her daughter’s not marrying, the children as the spawn of the devil.

Cathy decides to get revenge on her mother who has caused the suicide of Carrie and seduces her mother’s husband. All is revealed at the opening of the re-modeled house, disaster for all, especially as the daughter sets fire to the house and her mother is burnt to death. She is seen finally in an institution, looking for the children. Surprisingly, Chris and Cathy California where they have their own family.

1. Continuation of Flowers In the Attic? Presupposing knowledge of characters, situations? Corinne and marriage, the death of her husband, their not being married? The three children, to their grandmother’s, confined to the attic, the two years in the attic, the alienation of the mother, and neglect, the death of the twin, the relationship between Cathy and Christopher, incestuous? Their suffering, their escape?

2. The information about their being taken in by the kindly woman at the bus stop, the doctor adopting them, bringing them up, educating them? His death, funeral, Cathy and her speech? Tribute to him? His providing security for them?

3. The South and its atmosphere, Christopher and his medical studies, Cathy and ballet studies, Carrie at school and being bullied?

4. The mother, neglect, refusing to answer letters, hanging up on phone calls? Corinne, her father’s death, wealth, the decision to re-do the house? Her husband’s consent? Her mother, ageing, confined to the bed, the threat of nursing, the nursing staff, her daughter’s cruelty?

5. Christopher, impassive, medical studies, intelligence, impressing the doctor, the admiration of Sarah, agreeing to the date, attracted by her, the engagement, Sarah’s excitement, asking Cathy to be maid of honour, his passion for his sister, the memories of the past, in love only with her, the sexual encounter, Carrie listening at the door? His career, welcomed into the family, Sarah finding brother and sister together? The move to California? Marrying his sister? The family?

6. Cathy, ballet lessons, the meeting with Julian, is bringing her home, Christopher’s jealousy, the decision to go to New York, moving in with Julian, the ballet lessons, his jealousy, flirting, possessiveness over Cathy, injuring her? Romeo and Juliet, dancing with Julian? The influence of the director? Returning for Christopher’s graduation? Carrie coming to New York and asking to stay, Julian, sexual approach, Cathy’s reaction, at the debut? In the car, telling Julian about the baby, his distraction, the crash, his death? The birth of the boy? Cathy’s return, training children, love for her son? Carrie’s death after the hope of the engagement? Cathy asking Christopher for revenge on their mother, Cathy’s decision, seducing Corinne’s husband, the affair, pregnancy? The buildup to the opening of the redecorated house, the speech, Cathy revealing the truth, the consequences? The burning house, their grandmother dying, their mother confined to an institution?

7. Carrie, her age, being bullied at school, the doll? Hanging, locked in the room? Coming to New York, the encounter with Julian, liking it? The return, singing and the choir, friendship with the minister, talking, his proposal, acceptance? Going to meet her mother, the correspondence, invitation, her mother disowning, her killing herself?

8. Corinne, disowning her children, influence of another, the spawn of the devil? Ignoring? Renewing the house, love for her husband, the clashes with her mother, threatening her with an institution? The argument about religion, the devil, the curse? The function, Cathy’s announcement, the consequences for Corinne, setting the house on fire, the death of her mother? Seeing her in an institution, calling for her children?

9. The scenes with her mother, at the opening, later, the arguments? Cathy’s visit and challenging her? Done up for the function, acknowledging the consequences, not supporting her daughter? Her death?

10. Sarah, her father, the dates, happiness, the engagement, the preparations? The scene with brother and sister together?

11. Julian, his mother, her demands, the ballet, the director in love with him, his infatuation with Cathy, bringing her to New York, giving the opportunity, his petulance, accusing her of flirting, his relationships? His drinking, the insults? Romeo and Juliet, the opening, his molestation of Carrie? In the car, the distraction about the baby, the crash and his death?

12. The young minister, saying that he was square, liking the music, attracted to Carrie, seeing the goodness in her, the proposal, acceptance? The death?

13. Bart, relationship with Corinne, wanting children, busy at his work, allowing himself to be seduced, the function, his speech toast, hearing of Cathy’s pregnancy? Cathy trying to apologise, his being overcome?

14. Heightened melodrama – with touches and dialogue of soap opera?