Where the Lilies Bloom1974Where the Lilies Bloom
1974
In the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, fourteen-year-old Mary Call Luther promises her dying father she will keep the family together without taking charity. When he dies, she and her siblings hide his death and gather wild herbs to survive.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
A girl's fierce responsibility for her brothers and sisters, with Appalachian mountain life and wildcrafting.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
The father dies and the children bury him secretly and lie to keep the authorities away; the film presents it sympathetically, so it's worth talking about honesty and when to ask for help. There's grief, handled gently.
Where the Lilies Bloom (1974)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Why did Mary Call promise to keep the family together?
- Was it right to hide their father's death?
- How did the children earn money?
- What did Mary Call learn about pride and help?
Content advisory
AFI and Wikipedia (via WebSearch): a father's death and secret burial; the children lie to keep the family together; no violence or language concerns reported.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
Where the Lilies Bloom Blu-ray
Blu-ray · July 19, 2022
Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.