Gardens of the Night
Leslie struggles with a hand to mouth existence on the streets of San Diego with only her childhood friend Donnie to look after her. Both of them are trying to cope with the trauma of having been abducted and held captive by two men nine years earlier. As an eight-year-old girl, Leslie was abducted through trickery by an older man Alex, and his young accomplice Frank. Leslie was held captive in their house along with an eight-year-old boy named Donnie, who believed his mentally unstable mother sold him to Alex. The children create a bond with each other, managing to escape into a fantasy world they create in their bedroom. Years later Leslie and Donnie, now seventeen years old, are living as street-kids and struggling to cope with what they suffered through, having been affected by the experience differently. Donnie’s feelings for Leslie are those of any teenager in love, however, Leslie’s perception of love has been severely mutated through her relationship with Alex and her instinct is to run from Donnie. Can she not only survive this horrific experience, but be set free from its terrible shackles?
Gardens of the Night Poster
Also Known As: Have You Seen Me
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: A dark gritty story of children living on the streets of L.A.
Genres: Drama
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
Starring: John Malkovich, Jeremy Sisto, Evan Peters, Kyle Gallner, Harold Perrineau Jr
Release Date: November 7th, 2008 (limited)
Distributors: City Lights Media Group
Production Co.: Station3, Fastback Pictures, Shoot! Productions, La Nuit Americaine , Sobini Films
Directed by: Damian Harris
Produced by: Mark Amin, Todd Olsson, R.D. Robb
Produced in: United States
Official site: www.gardensofthenight.com
Poster Courtesy Of Stockholm Design
I enjoyed this movie, because these types of films make me appreciate life on another scale. Donnie and Leslie make a good relationship in such a horrific time in their lives. They deal with child prostitution and demonstrate the power of a bond between two people. Watching these drama based films remind me to appreciate the things i have.
Gardens of the Night deals in inherently sensationalist subject matter: kidnapping, child sex slaves and teenage prostitutes — each, apparently, more widespread in America than I thought. But writer-director Damian Harris does his best to keep the film free from salacity; it’s a tasteless story handled tastefully. An 8-year-old Catholic schoolgirl, Leslie (Ryan Simpkins), is on her way to class one morning when Tom Arnold, playing against type, enlists her in a lost-dog hunt that ends with him offering her a ride to school. You can see where this is headed.
i like this movie very much.
I think that this review is obscured. I thought the movie was amazing.
I’m judging from the trailer here, but Gardens of the Night doesn’t seem anything like Being John Malkovich other than the fact that he’s in both.
This looks really good. It’s been on my ‘most anticipated’ list for quite some time.
I have not seen it. Most of my film reviews are on yet to be released films, so i review the trailers themselves and give my opinions on them etc. When i get round to seeing the actual movie ill be able to review it in a lot more detail, then i would’ve already liked to.
I had the chance to see the movie in Berlin Festival this year. Great movie, great cast! One of the best movies of this year. I recommend to everyone. I will take my friends when it opens in LA. Congrats to the whole crew and cast! As a movie lover I am very grateful to you for bringing real life subjects to the screen.
A private romantic dinner was set just for us one night by the pool. and watch this movies..its best moment i wont forget
Watching garden movies are meant to enjoy, to savour, to wrap us in their splendour. Moonlight illuminates the flowers and foliage of sensation
We are so much enjoying this movies, me my boyfriend and popcorn ..its great feeling !
i though it was Secret Garden Genre