Where the Lilies Bloom
Year: 1974
Runtime: 98 mins
Language: English
Director: William A. Graham
When their father dies, a group of siblings conceal the tragedy and try to survive alone in the remote backwoods of rural North Carolina. They know that if authorities discover them, the children will be separated and placed in foster care, so they must hide their loss and fend for themselves.
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Where the Lilies Bloom (1974) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Read the complete plot breakdown of Where the Lilies Bloom (1974), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
In the mountains of North Carolina, the Luther family—poor sharecroppers—scrape by from season to season. The father, Roy Luther Rance Howard, is sickly, and he asks the second eldest daughter, Mary Call Julie Gholson, to take over his role as father when he dies. He instructs her not to tell anyone when he dies, since doctors, undertakers, and preachers “just take money.” If the authorities discover he’s dead, the children would be split up and placed in foster homes since none are of legal age.
Their landlord Kiser Pease Harry Dean Stanton is interested in marrying the eldest daughter Devola Jan Smithers. Roy Luther won’t allow the marriage, and he makes Mary Call promise she won’t let it happen after he dies. Mary Call and younger brother Romey Matthew Burrill help Kiser when he’s sick with pneumonia, and Kiser agrees to sign the land back over to the Luther family.
When Roy dies, the children bury him on a mountainside in an unmarked grave, then go to elaborate lengths to keep anyone from finding out he is dead. The children rehearse over and over about what to say if asked about their father. Kiser continues his courtship of Devola, and Mary Call does everything she can to thwart his pursuit.
The Luther children scrimp and do all they can to eke out a living for themselves, even selling roots and herbs gathered from their land to the local pharmacist to use in medicines. Mary Call takes refuge in her journal, and the essays she writes for school assignments catch the eye of her teacher who urges her not to waste her talent with words by settling for a life in the hills.
When Kiser lands in the hospital after having been hit by a truck, his nosy sister Goldie Alice Beardsley comes to the Luther house and demands they vacate the property. She says the paper that Kiser signed giving the Luthers their land is worthless and orders them out in 48 hours. With few options left, a desperate Mary Call visits Kiser in the hospital and offers herself to him in marriage. Kiser would rather marry Devola and a distraught Mary Call blurts out that Roy Luther is dead. She threatens to kill Kiser if he tells anyone and storms out. Finally, Mary Call agrees to let Kiser marry Devola. Mary Call realizes that Kiser was not so bad after all. After Kiser and Devola marry, the entire Luther family live together in Kiser and Devola’s home.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:21
Explore Movie Threads
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Movies where siblings survive alone like in Where the Lilies Bloom
Children band together, hiding from the world to preserve their fragile family.If you enjoyed the determined struggle of the children in 'Where the Lilies Bloom,' explore more movies like it. This list features similar dramas about siblings banding together to survive in secret, facing poverty and the threat of separation with fierce resilience and a bittersweet tone.
An Unfinished Life
2005
Everybody's Fine
2016
The Man in the Moon
1991
Happiness
2016
Our Souls at Night
2017
The Only One
2006
Solace
2006
A Father’s Legacy
2020
Before You Go
2002
Where the Lilies Bloom
1974
Roommates
1994
The Kidnappers
1953
The Hedgehog
2009
Keeping the Promise
1997
The Other Side of Sunday
1996
Narrative Summary
Stories in this thread follow a linear survival plot where a group of siblings must conceal a major loss (like a parent's death) to stay together. The narrative unfolds through their daily efforts to provide food, shelter, and a semblance of normalcy, all while evading discovery. The central conflict pits their fierce independence against the necessity of outside help, often leading to a compromised but pragmatic resolution.
Why These Movies?
These films are grouped by their shared focus on the sibling bond as the primary source of strength in a desperate situation. They share a melancholic yet hopeful mood, a slow, deliberate pacing that emphasizes the burden of responsibility, and a central theme of children protecting their own fragile world against adult intervention.
Rural resilience dramas with a tone like Where the Lilies Bloom
Stories of dignified survival against the stark backdrop of poverty and isolation.For viewers who appreciated the atmospheric struggle and rural setting of 'Where the Lilies Bloom,' this collection features similar movies. Discover other straightforward dramas about quiet resilience, poverty, and a deep connection to a secluded home, all with a medium emotional weight and a slow, thoughtful pace.
Narrative Summary
The narrative pattern involves characters, often families, grappling with poverty and the challenges of a remote setting. The plot is driven by their relationship to the land and their determination to endure without losing their dignity. The conflict is often low-key but persistent, arising from nature, circumstance, or societal neglect, rather than overt villains, leading to endings that are earned but rarely purely triumphant.
Why These Movies?
These movies share a specific mood blend of melancholic isolation and quiet hope. They are united by a slow pacing that allows the setting to become a character, a medium intensity that comes from sustained hardship, and a thematic focus on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of rural poverty and simplicity.
Unlock the Full Story of Where the Lilies Bloom
Don't stop at just watching — explore Where the Lilies Bloom in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Where the Lilies Bloom is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Where the Lilies Bloom Timeline
Track the full timeline of Where the Lilies Bloom with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Characters, Settings & Themes in Where the Lilies Bloom
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Where the Lilies Bloom. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
