Saving Grace - A Must See

I enjoy movies. I really do. Movies that make me think, laugh or feel good. Recently, I saw Saving Grace a movie directed by Nigel Cole and starring Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson, Martin Clunes, Tcheky Karyo and Jamie Foreman.

The premise of the movie is an upper-class widow (Grace Trevethan, played by Brenda Blethyn) with exceptional gardening skills, finds that her unfaithful husband has committed suicide and left her penniless with a mortgage and a bank ready to foreclose on her home. Brenda is totally clueless on matters of finances and discovers that her husband fancied get rich quick schemes that left them broke. Brenda needs to raise 300,000 pounds fast or she will lose her home. Brenda is desperate and seeks help from her gardener, Matthew (Craig Ferguson), and he suggests growing marijuana.

The subplot here is that Matthew needs money to get married to his girlfriend.  Unbeknownst to him, the girlfriend is pregnant and doesn’t want him to get arrested selling pot.  Grace converts her greenhouse into a hydroponic marijuana farm.  When it comes time to harvest and sell the crop, Grace goes to London and makes a bargain with a French drug lord. 

The plot is wacky, funny and hilarious. 

The viewer finds much to giggle about from the innocent townspeople to even the somewhat endearing drug dealer.  The movie offers a beautiful setting, a plausible premise and hope that friendship is powerful and empowering.  The interesting plot twist at the end is a terrific way to make light of an illegal and dangerous activity and provide a hopeful ending.  

The reason I include this British movie in a blog about Irish Americans is to demonstrate the relationship of these two cultures . Despite the long and violent history, there are many common cultural and social practices.  As you will see,  life and love in the country can be quite similar in England as in Ireland.

Saving Grace triumphs in the end by showing the power of friendship and idealism and that wanting to help someone trumps the risk you might take.  Good flick, fun Friday night viewing with friends.