Dare to Be Wild

Such a shame the criticism of this film. I found it a lovely story, and it wasn't fiction, but based on a real woman who dared greatly to be different. I, for one, found it beautifully inspiring. Yes, the odd "fairy" stuff that popped in briefly a couple times was a little hokey, if you even notice it, but I found it a symbolic representation of her profound positivity & spirit which drove her forward. I didn't find her mopey or begging: each challenge she faced with surprising optimism & brave problem-solving to do what she did. Her designs are modest & inspired. Truly different

This had a great message but it became lost along the way. Although said to be based on the true achievements of Mary Reynolds, the effect of the "fairies" was disastrous on the plot line, stretching credibility to breaking point.

Despite the fast pace and frenetic editing, what could have still been salvageable with the apparent sincerity of the female lead and supporting cast was rendered a lost cause by the appalling male lead with no character depth at all whose chief contribution was a succession of attempts at smouldering looks that became incredibly annoying.

Of course, all films are built on an investment of time, talent, money, and emotion and so it is difficult to be negative about the hard work that goes into them. However, in this film the potential was simply not realized.

7.6 stars.

This film feels like you are present in the wild hills of Ireland and the arid deserts of Ethiopia. We are presented with a very intricate tapestry of nature and how the various peoples of the world are closely linked together with it and with each other through the gentle power and magic of nature.

Somehow this film brings to life the wildness of it all, almost to another plane of existence. It's a cluster of emotions obviously evoked by the cinematography and music. The acting is intriguing. The female lead is a wonderful down-to-earth old soul who can envision a world full of life once again, with trees, plants and flowers abounding. The male lead, however, was suspicious. That's the closest word I can think of.

I enjoy this movie for her artistic endeavors and indomitable spirit. The actress and the production are brilliant. Some of the other characters are interesting. The male lead is odd, but obviously gorgeous as far as I can tell, being that I'm a man.

I don't see any discrepancy between God and nature as do some of the reviewers. This is a film that invites the viewer to explore and appreciate the natural world in all it wildness. I love to go into nature and live on the ocean surrounded by beautiful green mountains. I go into nature and feel at one with it as I open to being at one with the Creator of all worlds. Natural Love and Divine Love go hand in hand for me and I respect those who disagree. A wonderful film in its essence with a message that at its core is love.

This movie is so beautiful, based on a true story.

this movie shows you the true beauty of the wild nature.

This sappy, in every sense, based-on-a-true story drama tells the story of how Irish landscape designer Mary Reynolds (played by Emma Greenwell) came to compete at the 2002 Chelsea flower show. Reynolds' entry was a Celtic-themed space made with mature hawthorn trees, weathered stone, wildflowers and lots of waffle about the sanctity of untamed nature. The underlying Eco-message is laudable, and the filmmakers deserve respect for getting a movie about garden design financed at all, but they do lay the sentiment on thick with a bulldozer, smothering the good bits with a dense compost of mawkishness and cliché. Consequently, Reynolds comes across here not just as an iconoclastic outsider but as a hippie sprite with Timotei-advert hair who must go to battle with the punctilious tweed-suited upper-class twits who control the Chelsea floor show. Meanwhile, her romantic entanglement with garden builder and part-time fiddle-player Christy Collard (Tom Hughes) becomes an Out of Africa-style love across continents. At least the gardens are, as you would expect, spectacularly beautiful.

Thanks to the Japaness writer who still works for Utopia and donating money.