The dialogue is on-the-nose and its lessons are pedestrian, but the film remains a “working poor-trait” of poignancy and grace due to Addie Land's unself-conscious turn.
Comment
10/05/04
Rate this Movie 
Evergreen (2004)
44
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:36
Fresh:16
Rotten:20
Average Rating:5.7/10
Runtime: 86 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: A teen coming-of-age drama set in the the Northwestern US, EVERGREEN is a "grass is always greener" story. Henri (Cara Seymour) is a 14-year-old girl whose mom doesn't have much money. Her friend... [More]
Starring: Cara Seymour, Mary Kay Place, Noah Fleiss, Gary Farmer
Director: Enid Zentelis
Reviews for Evergreen
Newcomer Land is a find, performing with guileless naturalism and resilient dignity.
09/10/04
A sensitive film.
09/09/04
Although Zentelis doesn't always nail the strange rhythms of real life, she does show that she's on the right track.
09/10/04
Told with a tender vigor, the film explores relationships on a number of levels.
05/01/04
Top CriticA solid, affectionately told drama, at times wavering the line of excellent, that only disappoints when it doesn't add up to the fully-realized catharsis it is aiming for.
09/11/04
Though the acting is tentative at times, with performances not quite landing on the same page, Evergreen is a compassionate slice of Pacific Northwest misery.
09/07/04
Observant, touching, funny and smart.
09/10/04
Zentelis sees these people as essentially well-meaning and cares for them so deeply that the feeling is contagious. She has an unpretentious, effortless style and is highly skilled with her first-rate cast.
09/09/04
Top CriticZentelis' affection for her characters and the clear-eyed honesty of her storytelling glides us through any unsubtleties.
09/10/04
The script is sometimes awkward and over-reaching, but it is helped a great deal by the natural but sensitive performances, especially Gary Farmer.
09/09/04
Click to read the article
06/18/05
This modest coming-of-age story eschews poor-little- poor-girl emotionalism in favor of carefully observed moments that slowly build in power.
09/10/04
Serves as a small, heartfelt corrective to all the tween fantasies being sold this year.
09/10/04
Only the performances keep the film out of After School Special territory.
09/10/04
It's a rare film that's about social class in American life, and Bellingham writer-director Enid Zentelis explores its hidden structure and silent barriers in a novel, subtle way that makes its points without hitting us over the head with them.
09/09/04
Click to read the article
06/18/05
For all kind and admirable reasons, Zentelis wants to portray America's working poor, but she only gets deep enough to pity them.
09/09/04
While the film has striking moments, it feels padded with events that seem freighted with narrative weight but end up not mattering at all to the story.
09/10/04
It's a shame, because this could have been one of those little movies that made you feel so much for a young girl's struggle to find her place - this didn't.
09/10/04
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 81% | Departures | 04/12 |
| 79% | Disgrace | 04/12 |
| 79% | Me and Orson Welles | 04/12 |
| 66% | The Merry Gentleman | 04/12 |
| 61% | The Girlfriend Experience | 04/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube 
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds