Spokane International Film Festival: Portrait of a Garden

Here’s a fun event coming up: the Spokane International Film Festival, which runs from Jan. 27 through Feb. 5. And there’s one film in particular that should be of interest to gardeners: “Portrait of a Garden,” which I’ll be hosting on Jan. 28 at 3 p.m.

Here is the description of the film:

In a historical vegetable garden on a Dutch estate, the 85 year-old pruning master and the gardener tend to the espaliers. As they prune, the men chat about food, the weather, the world and they share their knowledge of horticulture. Surrounded by vegetable patches, citrus trees in the historical orangery, the orchard and lush grapevines we’re swept along by their passion, dedication and knowledge that make up the essential ingredients of successfully maintaining a large vegetable garden.

Fifteen years, they have spent working on the pear arbour. Will it finally close over this year?

Despite his old age, the pruning master is still inexhaustible and driven. As he worries about the loss of centuries of knowledge, the younger gardener makes a real effort of soaking up all this knowledge and passing it on.

Meanwhile the seasons go by. The gardening lady works the vegetable patches, the citrus trees leave their winter accommodation and we get to meet the Apple Blossom Beetle. The grand finale is in August with its seemingly never-ending harvest and its abundance of taste, colour and scent. As peace slowly returns to the natural world, it’s business as usual for the gardener amid the falling leaves and the white frost on the branches. Everything has its time.In a historical vegetable garden on a Dutch estate, the 85 year-old pruning master and the gardener tend to the espaliers. As they prune, the men chat about food, the weather, the world and they share their knowledge of horticulture. Surrounded by vegetable patches, citrus trees in the historical orangery, the orchard and lush grapevines we’re swept along by their passion, dedication and knowledge that make up the essential ingredients of successfully maintaining a large vegetable garden.

Intrigued? The film is in Dutch with English subtitles, so be sure to bring glasses along if you need them! It is 98 minutes long.

“Portrait of a Garden” will be screened at the Magic Lantern Theater on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. and again on Wednesday, Feb. 1st at 6:45 p.m. I will just be hosting the first screening due to a prior commitment on the 1st. The cost is $10. The organizers are anticipating it will be a sell-out so be sure to get your tickets ASAP.

If you’re not familiar with the Magic Lantern, it’s located at 25 W. Main in Spokane and their phone number is (509) 209-2383. You can purchase tickets here. Those who are members of STCU can purchase tickets for half off; contact STCU for the discount code.

Here is a link to the full schedule for the Spokane International Film Festival. Hope to see you there!