Watch The Assam Garden

The Assam Garden is a 1985 British drama film directed by Mary McMurray and starring Deborah Kerr, Ronald Russell, and Daisy Bell. The film is set in a rural village in Northumberland, England, and is about the unlikely relationship that develops between two very different women. The story begins when a wealthy Indian widow, Mini (Daisy Bell), arrives in a small English village looking for her long-lost daughter. Mini is an outsider in the village, and she struggles to adapt to the reserved and formal social customs of the English countryside. She is taken in by a wealthy and well-respected widow, Lydia (Deborah Kerr), who lives in a large house called The Assam Garden.

Lydia is a reserved and lonely woman who has spent most of her life taking care of her garden. She is fascinated by Mini's exotic background and is drawn to her energy and enthusiasm. Despite their differences, the two women strike up an unlikely friendship, and Mini begins to help Lydia with her garden.

As the relationship between the two women deepens, they begin to reveal their past traumas and secrets. Lydia reveals that her husband and son were killed in a car accident many years ago, and she has been unable to move on from the tragedy. Mini tells Lydia that her husband was killed during a political uprising in India and that her daughter was taken from her shortly after.

The Assam Garden is a slow-paced film that focuses on the characters and their emotional journey. The scenery and cinematography are breathtaking, and the film captures the beauty and isolation of the English countryside. The film's score is also noteworthy, with haunting and melancholic music that sets the mood for the film.

The film's themes are universal and relatable, dealing with loss, grief, and the importance of human connection. The Assam Garden is a film that rewards patience and emotional investment. The film's ending is poignant and heartwarming, leaving the audience with a sense of hope and catharsis.

Deborah Kerr delivers a powerful performance as the reserved and emotionally closed-off Lydia. She portrays the character's pain and grief with stoicism and subtlety, making her eventual emotional outpouring all the more powerful. Daisy Bell is also excellent as the spirited and resilient Mini, bringing warmth and energy to the film.

The Assam Garden received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics finding the film slow and uneventful. However, the film has gained a cult following over the years and is seen as a quiet gem of British cinema. The film's exploration of cross-cultural friendship and human connection has resonated with audiences around the world, making it a film that is worth seeking out.