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Imagine a bunch of hardened, macho criminals providing tender, loving care to delicate petunias. The idea isn't so far-fetched -- not in England, where gardening is an art form and not a mere hobby. Criminals blossom
into film-inspiring
gardeners
By Suzanne Tswei
stswei@starbulletin.comInmates from Her Majesty's Prison Leyhill, a minimum-security facility for prisoners approaching parole, have been doing exactly that. The gardening has been part of their rehabilitation program for the last 10 years, and it's worked so well that the inmates have been exhibiting their gardens at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, which always opens with an attendance by the British monarchs.
The unlikely gardeners also inspired an outrageous movie, "Greenfingers," which is having its Hawaii premiere at 4 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Theatre. The comedy stars Helen Mirren, who portrays a professional gardener who wears her pearls while puttering around the garden. Her life is turned upside down when love blooms between her daughter and a hardened criminal.
It is a story of how lives can be changed by a finding the perfect vocation. The movie also stars Clive Owen and is directed by Joel Hershman, who also directed "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me." (That movie involves a criminal on the run, a homicidal heiress, a foul-mouthed pornography star and her animal-loving little sister, and an aging Hungarian diva and her good-for-nothing son. But it has no gardening.)
The Hawaii premiere is sponsored by the Garden Club of Honolulu, Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle and state Department of Public Safety. The three organizations are partners in a similar vocational training program at the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua.
Tickets, $25 each, may be reserved by calling the Garden Club of Honolulu, 261-2514 or 247-4294, and Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, 263-8555 or 262-9479.
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