Desert Bloom (1986)

Synopsis:

A precocious teenage girl, played by Annabeth Gish (Hiding Out and Mystic Pizza), recalls growing up in Nevada (USA) during the 1950s.

Reaction & Thoughts:

This coming-of-age drama doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but thanks to a terrific cast, it all ends with an emotional wallop. Nicely directed by Eugene Corr (co-writer of the 1997 biopic Prefontaine), Desert Bloom is a heartwarming and perceptive indie production where the actors bring each and every character to life flawlessly.

The setting is Nevada in the 1950s, around the time the government was conducting nuclear tests in the area. Even though that aspect of the movie is intriguing, I was more invested in the angsty heroine and her colorful family. The characters are engaging, and the story explores universal themes that transcend time and place.

In her first lead role in a feature length movie, 15-year-old Annabeth Gish is simply enchanting. She is superb, and pretty much steals the show! Gish never became a big star, but she is always a pleasure to watch. The entire movie revolves around her, and newcomer Gish carries herself like a seasoned professional.

Another standout performance is delivered by Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy), who plays Gish’s alcoholic stepdad. At first glance, the stepdad comes across as a moody drunk, but there is much more to the character than meets the eye. Voight brings out the hidden aspects of the character’s complex personality beautifully.

JoBeth Williams, so good as the fierce mom in the horror classic Poltergeist (1982), reminds us once again that she is great at playing interesting movie moms — Williams knocks it out of the park as the family matriarch. Ellen Barkin (The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) is terrific as Gish’s flaky Aunt. Also with Allen Garfield (Nashville) and Jay Underwood (The Boy Who Could Fly) (film debut).

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

Desert Bloom follows the coming-of-age movie formula to a T. It isn’t very original, but it’s a really nice little movie. It does a good job explaining why we sometimes need to make peace with the past in order to have a healthy and happy life. The entire cast is fantastic, and the characters are relatable despite the fact that this is a period piece. Narrated by Christine Lahti (Swing Shift). Color, 105 minutes, Rated PG.

VHS Promo: