The Oscars are this weekend and to celebrate, we’ve put together a list of the top flower-filled films of all time. From the poppy fields in The Wizard of Oz to the red roses in American Beauty, flowers have always played an important role in movies in terms of their symbolism and the visual impact they make on screen. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous movies featuring flowers!
1. Big Fish
In the movie Big Fish, there is a breathtaking scene of Edward standing in a field filled with daffodils. It’s said that Tim Burton’s crew spent a whole weekend planting the real flowers for the shot.
2. Broken Flowers
In Broken Flowers, a man in search of an anonymous letter-writer, thought to be one of his ex-girlfriends, enters a flower shop prior to meeting with his 5th ex-girlfriend. Here, the florist creates a beautiful bouquet of lilies and pink carnations. The same color scheme appears throughout the film, from center pieces to the clothing of the women he visits.
3. Memoirs of a Geisha
In one of the most famous scenes in Memoirs of a Geisha, Sayuri goes for a walk with the man she loves but cannot be with and they stand beneath a cherry blossom tree which sprinkles pink petals all around them like snow. The cherry blossom is of great cultural significance in Japan and the film pays perfect homage to the flower.
4. Beauty and the Beast
The red rose is an iconic symbol of love in the Disney film Beauty and the Beast. The flower is given to the prince by a beggar asking for shelter. He denies the beggar and she punishes him for his lack of love by turning him into a beast. If the beast can learn to love and be loved in return before the rose dies, the spell will be broken and he will be turned back into a prince.
5. Alice in Wonderland
Red roses make another memorable appearance in the movie version of Alice in Wonderland. One of the most famous scenes is of the card gardeners who planted white roses instead of red roses and then begin painting the roses red in attempt to avoid the Queen of Heart’s wrath. The scene has many meanings, and regardless of which may be true, it’s one of the most memorable flower-filled scenes in film.
6. The Town
In Ben Affleck’s The Town the main character, based on Irish American mobster Dean O’Banion, upholds a front as a Boston florist and excellent floral designer. Numerous scenes throughout the film show the man in the flower shop arranging bouquets – a big contrast to his otherwise very violent nature.
7. The Wizard of Oz
The beloved classic The Wizard of Oz stunned moviegoers in the 1930s with its use of Technicolor and special effects. One of the boldest scenes is that of Dorothy falling asleep in a field of deadly, scarlet poppies.
8. American Beauty
The vivid red rose is displayed throughout the Oscar-winning drama American Beauty and is one of its most defining motifs. The most famous scene is of the character Angela laying on a bed of red rose petals.
There are plenty of movies throughout history that prominently feature flowers as symbols of love and beauty in their stories. Which one is your favorite? And which flower-filled films would you add to this list? Share with us in the comments!