The Wishing Tree

1999 1h 27m EN

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 6

FantasyTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When her storyteller mother (Mary Alice) dies, attorney Clara Collier (Alfre Woodard) returns to her Georgia hometown and is soon captivated by a local legend of the "Magic Man" (Blair Underwood). While looking for the source of the tale, Clara uncovers suprising family secrets. Czech filmmaker Ivan Passer directs this family drama that delves into the storytelling tradition of the Deep South. Blair Underwood and Helen Shaver co-star.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Alfre Woodard
Clara
Helen Shaver
Wallis
Mary Alice
Mattie
Blair Underwood
Thomas
Charles Weldon
Al "Alfred" Brooks
Leslie Carlson
Professor
Peter Haworth
Will

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ivan Passer
Writers: Grant Scharbo
Languages: English

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

87 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ivan Passer, shot by Ousama Rawi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Elia Cmiral. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Richard Halsey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Alfre Woodard and Helen Shaver and Mary Alice carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0212615 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ivan Passer directs. Ousama Rawi behind the camera. Elia Cmiral scores. Richard Halsey cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
227 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Ivan Passer, shot by Ousama Rawi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Elia Cmiral. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Richard Halsey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Alfre Woodard and Helen Shaver and Mary Alice carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0212615 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 6 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.