The Assam Garden

The Assam Garden is a 1985 British drama film directed by Mary McMurray and produced by Nigel Stafford-Clark with Peter Jaques as associate producer. Made by Moving Picture Company and distributed by Contemporary Films Ltd., it was written by Elisabeth Bond. The music score was by Richard Harvey and the cinematography by Bryan Loftus.

The Assam Garden
Directed byMary McMurray
Produced byNigel Stafford-Clark
Written byElisabeth Bond
StarringDeborah Kerr
Madhur Jaffrey
Alec McCowen
Zia Mohyeddin
Anton Lesser
Iain Cuthbertson
Music byRichard Harvey
CinematographyBryan Loftus
Distributed byContemporary Films Ltd.
Release date
UK June 1985
US 30 July 1986
Running time
92 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£600,000[1]

The film stars Deborah Kerr and Madhur Jaffrey with Alec McCowen, Zia Mohyeddin, Anton Lesser and Iain Cuthbertson.[2]

The film was shot at Priors Mesne in Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England. At certain times of the year the garden is opened as part of the NGS (Gardens open for Charity) Scheme. In addition part of the land owned by Priors Mesne and run by the owners is now a Deer Park.

Plot

The recently widowed and somewhat cold Mrs. Graham (Deborah Kerr) discovers that her late husband's expansive garden has been selected for consideration as a "Great British Garden". Mrs Graham then devotes her days to tending the garden that her husband had devoted his life to, in the hopes of it being selected for this honour. While gardening, Mrs. Graham encounters and develops a close friendship with her neighbor, Mrs. Lal. Through working in the garden with Mrs. Lal, Mrs. Graham finds some joy and warmth in life.

However, Mrs. Lal is homesick for her native India and at the end of the film, returns to India, leaving Mrs. Graham alone again. Mrs. Graham also learns that her husband left debts and she may be forced to sell her house and beloved garden, just when it looks like it has qualified for the Great British Garden list. The film ends with Mrs. Graham standing alone in the garden calling to her late husband to not leave her.

Cast

Award nomination
Year Award ceremony Category Nominee Result
1987 David di Donatello Best Foreign Actress Deborah Kerr Nominated

References
  1. "Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing" (PDF). British Film Institute. 2005. p. 19.
  2. Goodman, Walter. "The Assam Garden (1985)". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
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