Paradise Grove

Synopsis

A quirky film about life, death, and the bit in the middle, Paradise Grove is a beguiling blend of tragedy, romance, and wry Jewish wit. Set in an eccentric north London Jewish old age home, the film revolves around three generations of the same family. There's cantankerous old Izzie Goldberg (Ron Moody), who's dying and is not at all happy about it, his hedonistic daughter Dee (Rula Lenska), the home's owner, a cross between a Sixties flower child and a traditional Jewish mother—and there's her teenage age son Keith (Leyland O'Brien), the mixed-race outcome of a disastrous marriage. Keith's identity crisis forms the film's emotional core: he's trying to build personal and religious bridges with his grandfather while starting a relationship with the mysterious Kim (Lee Blakemore), who turns up one morning looking for shelter, and who offers the promise of a life outside Paradise Grove. He'd love to get away from his domineering mother but can he abandon Izzie? And why does Kim keep a loaded gun in her handbag?

Reviews

"Sensitively moving between playful humour and serious drama..." Raindance Film Festival

"A jewel that will shine for years to come..." Notes From Hollywood

"Sharply observed and often hilarious..." London Jewish Chronicle

Accolades

The film garnered several awards and nominations;

BEST NEW DIRECTOR CHARLES HARRIS (Palm Springs Festival of Festivals)

AUDIENCE FAVORITES (Palm Springs Festival of Festivals)

BRONZE AWARD FOR FIRST FILM (Houston WorldFest)

AUDIENCE FAVOURITES (Commonwealth Film Festival)

BEST FILM (British Independent Film Awards)