Night-Flowers

A.K.A Night Angels, 10/10 (star choice). A mind-blowing picture that that was produced in the same year as 'Taxi Driver' (1976) but without a true, charismatic anti-hero such as Travis. 'Night Flowers' concerns the terrible plight of two dead-beat 'Nam' Vets, who have little chance of getting any serious employment. Stars Gabriel Walsh (also the scriptwriter), who plays a really disturbed, Irish American called Tommy and Jose Perez in the role of a crazy Hispanic, called Nordi. A true example of the forgotten art of film making, with a slow burning pace and one of the best directed films Iv'e ever seen. One good reason to still own a video tape machine (as not sure if can be obtained on DVD) and nothing will ever be made like this (ever again). Directed with no style (only class), by Luis San Andres. What a film, albeit a truly disturbing one. Authentic at every turn.

First of all, lets clear something up. If you are a Linda Hamilton fan who is hunting this flick down in order to catch a glimpse of the lovely lady in an early role - Don't bother. SHE AIN'T IN IT!!! Nonetheless, 'Nightflowers' works just fine without her.

Following the progress of two Vietnam Veterans through the soul desert of 70's New York, the film is little more than a handful of fascinating sequences in search of a plot, but holds the interest through offbeat, quirky characterizations and its one-of-a-kind atmosphere. It intelligently avoids any attempt at wider social commentary or 'message' and achieves a genuine, tragic power through chilly understatement and observation. Especially impressive is Gabriel Walsh, who also wrote the piece, as the most sympathetic of the vets. He's a gentle, simple soul who's overwhelming alienation is pushing him toward total breakdown.

The previous poster mentioned the powerful rape-and-murder sequence. This is in no way exploitative, the mise-en-scene (a shabby apartment observed by a distant, unmoving camera) brilliantly conveying the revulsion and horror of the act, and the ultimate hopelessness of it's perpetrators, with incredible power. Also gripping is 'Dancing Dannys' attempted pick-up of Walsh's character. It's beautifully played, tense and finally shocking.

I have an old, rather tatty VHS copy that I picked up in some back-street dive years ago. The advertising blurb and artwork, which includes photographs of scenes that appear to be from a different film altogether, promise an action-exploitation picture. 'Nightflowers', or 'Nightangels' as the ad-art proclaims it, is a far more personal and interesting work than that.

Night Flowers will be released on DVD in 2013. The release will be made from the original tape owned by author, scriptwriter and actor Gabriel Walsh who co-produced the movie. It was recently discovered that "Night Flowers" was available on-line.The copies were unauthorized. Thankfully this situation has been remedied. The new DVD will be of a higher quality as it will be copied from the original master tape. Under consideration is the possibility of a commentary voice over by Gabriel Walsh about the making of the film, background to the story, the actors and crew involved and side stories behind the making of this movie. Night Flowers received the ecumenical award at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1979 and was particularly well received in Germany where TV stations organized discussion forums about the impact of war on soldiers.

Two Vietnam vets, Tom (Gabriel Walsh) and Nordi (Jose Perez), live pretty sad lives in a crumbling New Jersey town. Sharing a one room apartment, they talk about their inability to hold down real work, struggle to get noticed at the VA and fail to connect with women. This changes for Tom when he meets Marcella (Sabra Jones) and they begin a relationship. However, he can't escape his past with Nordi and the co- dependent, toxic relationship soon takes a gruesome turn. I wasn't quite sure where to put this independent drama, but I guess here is the best place since not a lot of people have heard of it. This is one depressing flick, but I was captivated by it the whole time. Walsh also penned the screenplay and he gives a really good, subdued performance. Director Louis San Andres does a great job of capturing a decaying New Jersey and New York to match the characters mental breakdowns and increasing isolation. There is also a really harrowing scene about 40 minutes in that is totally unnerving, thanks mostly to Andres filming it in a wide shot done in one long take. Sadly, this was his lone feature film.

I saw this film years ago and can vaguely remember it - one thing that does stick in my mind is the appalling rape scene. Two guys who live in a seedy apartment put an advert in a window for a 'female flatmate'. A girl comes along and when she meets the two guys and sees the state of the flat she quickly tries to leave, but is stopped, forced to the floor and raped before being killed.

This is an unpleasant film about a disturbed Vietnam vet and his buddy and the whole movie is steeped in oppression - you'll want to take a valium and a shower after watching this.

That said, it's a shame it's not out on video or DVD as I wouldn't mind seeing it again to see if its quite the same film as I recall and also to see Linda Hamilton in her first ever movie role!