The Garden

The Garden

Year: 1991

Runtime: 92 min

Language: English

Director: Derek Jarman

Drama

Born from personal experiences of rage and beauty, this drama offers a searing look at anti-gay discrimination and the AIDS crisis. The film intertwines nightmares, musical sequences, and raw depictions of reality as the director cultivates his garden, grappling with mortality and seeking comfort in the beauty of nature and human connection. It’s a deeply personal and visually striking cinematic exploration of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of life.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Garden (1991)

Trace every key event in The Garden (1991) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Introduction to Jack's Family

In late 1970s England, we are introduced to Jack, a self-absorbed 15-year-old boy. He navigates life in a post-war prefab home with his family, consisting of his parents and three siblings: Julie, Sue, and Tom.

Late 1970s England
2

Tragic Loss of Father

Jack's life is turned upside down when his father suffers a fatal heart attack while they are working on the garden path. This sudden tragedy sends shockwaves through the entire household, leaving the family to grapple with grief and loss.

Shortly after Jack's introduction Garden Path
3

Mother's Illness

Just months after the father's death, Jack's mother becomes seriously ill and becomes bedridden. This forces Jack and his sister Julie to step up as the family's primary caregivers, further complicating their young lives.

A few months later Family Home
4

Conflict Between Siblings

Initially, Jack and Julie's relationship is fraught with conflict due to Jack's selfishness. They struggle to manage their responsibilities and emotions while caring for their incapacitated mother, leading to increased tension in the household.

During Mother's illness
5

Development of Unsettling Bond

As they cope with their dire situation, an unsettling bond begins to form between Jack and Julie. Jack finds himself developing an inappropriate crush on his older sister, which complicates their already strained relationship.

During the mother's illness
6

Mother's Death

Eventually, their mother passes away, leaving Jack and Julie to face a shocking dilemma. Fearful of being separated and placed into foster care, they decide to conceal her death from the outside world.

After Mother's health declines Family Home
7

Concealment of the Body

Jack and Julie go to extreme lengths to hide their mother's death, using leftover cement to entomb her in a makeshift sarcophagus in the basement. This morally questionable decision further entangles them in their shared darkness.

Basement
8

Life Without Supervision

With no adult supervision, life unravels for Jack, Julie, and their siblings. Jack struggles with maturity and personal hygiene, while Sue withdraws into herself, finding refuge in her diary.

After mother's death Family Home
9

Julie’s Relationship with Derek

Amidst the chaos, Julie enters into a relationship with an older man named Derek. Jack experiences jealousy as he grapples with his complex feelings for Julie, further straining their already complicated sibling bond.

10

Tom's Exploration of Identity

Jack's younger brother, Tom, begins exploring his identity through cross-dressing. As he regresses into childlike dependency, his behavior adds another layer of tension to the family's volatile situation.

11

Derek's Suspicion

Derek grows suspicious of the odor emanating from the basement, prompting Jack to fabricate a story, claiming that the cement entombs a deceased dog. This deception underscores the fragile reality the siblings are living in.

Basement
12

Tom Reveals the Truth

In a moment of vulnerability, young Tom reveals the truth about their mother's remains to Derek. This unexpected revelation heightens the already intense situation, exposing the dark secret that Jack and Julie have been hiding.

13

Confrontation with Derek

Derek discovers Jack and Julie in a compromising situation and is horrified by their incestuous relationship. Despite his disgust, Jack and Julie reject Derek's judgment, viewing their bond as normal given their traumatic circumstances.

Family Home
14

Climactic Tension

As the tension escalates, Derek violently dismantles the sarcophagus, symbolizing the breakdown of Jack and Julie's fragile world. Amid this chaos, Jack and Julie find solace in each other, culminating in a moment of profound intimacy.

Basement
15

Final Moments

The sound of Derek dismantling the sarcophagus echoes throughout the house as Jack and Julie fall asleep, wrapped in each other's embrace. Outside, police lights ominously flicker, signaling the inescapable consequences of their actions.

Family Home

Last Updated: November 03, 2024 at 23:46

Unlock the Full Story of The Garden

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The Garden Summary

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The Garden Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Garden

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Garden

More About The Garden

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More About The Garden

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