The Cement Garden (film)

The Cement Garden is a 1993 British drama film directed by Andrew Birkin. It is based on the 1978 novel of the same name written by Ian McEwan. It was entered into the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival, where Birkin won the Silver Bear for Best Director.

A few months after the tragedy, Jacks mother and his siblings 17yearold Julie, 13yearold Sue and 6yearold Tom are still mourning, and Jack has become apathetic to the feelings of his family, while also neglecting to wash. Jacks mother is taken ill and becomes bedridden and frail, forcing Jack and Julie to take control of the household. Jacks selfishness soon leads to conflict between him and his older sister. When he attempts to remedy the tension between them by tickling her with beesuit gloves, he accidentally causes her to orgasm, although he attempts to cover this up from his siblings. Shortly after this, the family celebrates Jacks 16th birthday in their mothers bedroom. He is reluctant to contribute to the small party by singing, but when Julie does a handstand, Jack stares at her underwear, then shares an intimate moment with her by singing Greensleeves. Although the rest of the family assume they are having fun, Julie recognises what he is doing, and plays along. This, along with another incident wherein Julie, while sunbathing in the garden, persuades Jack to rub suncreen into her back, intensifies what was initially a small affection for her into an incestuous crush. Jack soon finds himself escorting Sue and Tom to and from school, and defending Tom from a school bully, while Julie takes up the cooking and cleaning duties.One day, while Jack is cleaning up his mothers room, his mother informs him that her illness has become worse, and that she will have to go to hospital for a couple of months. She tells him and Julie not to tell anyone about her absence, or else they will be forced into foster care and their home will be torn down. She informs him that she has set up a savings account for them to take care of themselves for a while. Shortly afterwards, the mother dies at home of her illness. Griefstricken and with no one else to go to, the siblings spend a miserable night together consoling each other in their living room. Remembering their last promis

Source: Wikipedia