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  Evergreen Production NotesA chance to reinvent herself.
Fourteen year old Henrietta—Henri for short—longs for everything she doesn't have. Looking down a road that turns bad instead of right, Henri (Land) and her mother Kate (Seymour) are forced to move in with her grandmother (Cohen) in a leaking shack on the edge of town. Henri is hell bent on finding a way out. At the same time, Henri meets a boy at school, Chat Turly (Fleiss), and becomes infatuated with his seemingly ideal wealthy family.
Henri overlooks some of the curious behavior she witnesses at the Turlys', choosing instead to see what she wants to see as she tries desperately to become a part of the family. When Henri can no longer ignore the severe flaws in Chat's home life, she comes to appreciate what she does have in a new light. Set in the Pacific Northwest, director Enid Zentelis' humorous and poignant feature debut explores family, love and envy.
Evergeen (originally entitled Avon Calling) was developed by Enid Zentelis in the screenwriter's and producer's labs at the Sundance Institute in 2000. Producer, Norma Jean Straw of Straw Stories joined Producer / Writer / Director, Zentelis, Granny Was An Outlaw Productions, in the winter of 2003 in Seattle and Everett, Washington, to prep, cast and shoot Evergreen along with line producers Cassy Soden and Fran Dunaway.
Press and Reviews
Los Angeles Times
“…a rare, deeply personal American film… [Zentelis] has an unpretentious, effortless style and is highly skilled with her first-rate cast… Zentelis pulls of a scene of maternal sacrifice (beautifully played by Cara Seymour) that recalls Barbara Stanwyck's best moments in Stella Dallas.”
Boston Globe
“…affecting slice of low-watt indie filmmaking that goes where few American movies bother: below the poverty line.”
Seattle Times
“Addie Land is a wonder… Zentelis and Land are two new artists that promise exciting futures.”
Baltimore Sun
“[Four stars] Evergreen marks [Zentelis'] impressively understated debut.”
Washington D.C. Journal
“…it's virtually impossible to watch the movie and not be moved…Evergreen is a calm eye in the aftermath of a hurricane of summer movies. It doesn't have lots of stars or a big budget. It wasn't written by committee or rewritten by test screenings. It's a brave statement by a talented new filmmaker, brought to life by a wonderful cast. And it deserves your attention.”
San Francisco Oakland Tribune
“How refreshing to see characters in a movie deal with objects that have some real weight…Zentelis creates a series of almost painting-like images…Evergreen also boasts an evocative soundtrack by John Stirratt and Pat Sansone…adding to the film's appeal are thoughtful, melodic tunes by critically acclaimed Mendoza Line…”
Minneapolis/St. Paul City Page
“Sex is a subject that has eluded even great filmmakers… writer-director Enid Zentelis allows sex to unite some complex ideas about greed and shame en route to a moment that is truly shocking… the story and the strength of the acting make [Evergreen] riveting.”
Houston Chronicle
 “after the raging narcissism of Thirteen, Evergreen is a welcomed mother-daughter relationship with true give and take… Newcomer Land is a find, performing with guileless naturalism and resilient dignity…”Philadelphia Daily News
“A-”
Star Ledger
“A bright spot at this year's Sundance Film Festival… smart… a heartfelt corrective to all the tween fantasies being sold this year… it rings precisely true.”
Kansas City Star
“The acting is superb… [Place's] climatic scene feels so real it hurts… Seymour perfectly captures a woman worn down, but still clinging to hope… Addie Land touches all the right notes.” Village Voice
“a compassionate slice of Pacific Northwest life…”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“… a rare film that's about social class in American life, and writer-director Enid Zentelis explores its hidden structure and silent barriers in a novel, subtle way…”
Duane Byrge, Hollywood Reporter
“Told with a tender vigor, the film explores relationships on a number of levels…. As written and directed by Enid Zentelis, Evergreen is a buoyant film, packed with everyday wisdom and propelled by the sympathetic lead performance of Addie Land…. The supporting performances are remarkable, including a vulnerable turn by Mary Kay Place as an agoraphobic suburbanite and an endearing portrayal by Gary Farmer as a Native-American casino worker.”
Tim Appello, Seattle Weekly: Film Pick of the Week
“Two triumphant screenings (at Seattle International Film Festival)… like Gus Van Sant's debut, Mala Noche, set in Portland, Evergreen brings us urgent news from a hitherto obscure white-trash milieu.”
Shannon Gee, Seattle Times
“…the first feature film out of the Seattle area to make it [to the Sundance Dramatic Competition] since Smoke Signals in 1998…. A story about class divides with a Northwest backdrop, Evergreen is wonderfully subtle and realistic in its performances and themes.”
Moira McDonald, Seattle Times
“[Addie Land] is terrific, giving a very natural, touching performance in the film's central role—her first time on screen. Remember her name.”
Diana De La Paz, Tacoma News Tribune
“The makeover scene in Evergreen might break your heart…. The movie is an unblinking, sometimes dark picture of the working poor in the Pacific Northwest—but the passion of its writer-director, Zentelis, radiates through the film like a full-spectrum lamp.”
John Cooper, Sundance Film Festival
“Evergreen celebrates two exciting debuts, that of Enid Zentelis, a writer/director whose poignant, honest storytelling ability captures the essence of a young woman facing life's challenges, and of Addie Land, the talented actress who portrays her. … The film portrays a multigenerational quest for dignity in a world that would rather look away—but Evergreen won't let you.”
Festivals and Awards
Best Director, Narrative Feature: 2004 Sonoma Valley Film Festival
Official Selection: 2004 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Competition
Official Selection: Seattle International Film Festival
Official Selection: Philadelphia International Film Festival
Official Selection: Atlanta Film Festival
Official Selection: Sao Paulo International Film Festival
Official Selection: Stockholm International Film Festival
Official Selection: Flanders International Film Festival
Official Selection: Arsenals International Film Festival
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