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White Oleander

The book White Oleander was made into the movie White Oleander.

Which one did you like better, the book or the movie?  There are 4 votes for the book, and 5 votes for the movie.

Book details for White Oleander

White Oleander was written by Janet Fitch. The book was published in 1999 by Books on Tape. More information on the book is available on Amazon.com.

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Abridged edition of the story read by Oprah WInfrey.
Abridged edition of the story read by Oprah WInfrey.

Movie details for White Oleander

The movie was released in 2002 and directed by Peter Kosminsky, who also directed Wuthering Heights (1992). More information on the movie is available on Amazon.com and also IMDb.

Actors on this movie include Amy Aquino, John Billingsley (II), Elisa Bocanegra, Darlene Bohorquez, Solomon Burke Jr., Scott Allan Campbell, Sam Catlin, Debra Christofferson, Billy Connolly, Marc Donato, Svetlana Efremova, Patrick Fugit, Vernon Haas, Sean Happy, Cole Hauser, Leila Kenzle, Cathy Ladman, Drinda Lalumia, Myra Lamar and James Lashly.

 

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Fine performances and sensitive direction keep White Oleander from being a routine tearjerker. Adapted from Janet Fitch's bestseller (an Oprah's Book Club selection), this hard-edged drama boasts a reputable cast, but 23-year-old newcomer Alison Lohman st... Read More
Fine performances and sensitive direction keep White Oleander from being a routine tearjerker. Adapted from Janet Fitch's bestseller (an Oprah's Book Club selection), this hard-edged drama boasts a reputable cast, but 23-year-old newcomer Alison Lohman steals the film from her A-list costars. As a troubled teen whose controlling mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) has been jailed for murder, Lohman is the film's heart and soul, bouncing between foster homes and rushing toward independence in a world of disappointing adults. After surviving episodic stints with a trashy born-again Christian (Robin Wright Penn), a suicidal housewife (Renée Zellweger), and a Russian immigrant (Zvetlana Efremova), she finds comfort with another outcast (Patrick Fugit), leaving behind the mothers who failed her. Making his feature directorial debut, British stage and TV veteran Peter Kosminsky creates a showcase for formidable actresses, each given moments to shine. White Oleander lacks the emotional depth of Fitch's novel, but it speaks volumes about the delicate balance of freedom and responsibility. --Jeff Shannon