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Sometimes when we’re at our lowest, it helps to seek out a fun friend—that upbeat, uplifting person who will boost our spirits and help us let go of our troubles. But in Juniper, a teenager finds exactly what he needs in the bad-tempered grandmother he’s never really known.
Juniper returns home to the New Zealand countryside with troubled teenager Sam (George Ferrier), who’s forced to help care for his alcoholic grandmother, Ruth (Charlotte Rampling), who’s visiting from England while recovering from a broken leg. Sam wants nothing to do with this ornery old woman, who spends her days making demands and drinking copious amounts of gin. But as the stubborn old woman and grieving teen are forced together, Sam learns that there’s more to her than he once thought—and they build a strong bond that changes his outlook on life.
Of course, this change doesn’t happen overnight. When Sam and Ruth first meet, the awkwardness of their position eventually gives way to anger and even violence. The two face off in a battle of wills—both equally stubborn and refusing to back down. But Ruth also respects her grandson’s fire. And as Sam discovers more about his long-lost grandmother and her life as a war photographer, he begins to understand that she’s so much more than just an angry old woman.
The story that plays out between the two isn’t necessarily surprising. It isn’t especially thrilling or insightful, either. It’s a simple and rather quiet film—a character study of two stubborn, difficult characters who undergo a touching transformation when they’re brought together. It’s a moving film about a kid who’s given up hope and an old woman who’s not ready to let go.
Sam is heartbroken over his mother’s death—and also the fact that his father sent him away to boarding school instead of keeping him close and taking the time to work through their grief together. Ruth is wrestling with old age and infirmity, refusing to believe that her greatest adventures are behind her. But together, these two struggling characters eventually find their peace. And though their story goes through the steps that you might expect, its lead actors ensure that it’s a moving experience.
Strikingly filmed with a strong cast, Juniper is a slow and simple but emotional film about finding healing and peace when and where you least expect it. It certainly isn’t a film for some light, easygoing Friday night viewing, but it’s a beautifully cathartic film.
You can find Juniper in select theaters beginning on February 24, 2023—or view it at home through Prime Video or AppleTV beginning on April 2, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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