Where the Lilies Bloom

The Luther family live a meager life in the Appalachian Mountains. When their widowed father falls gravely ill, he makes his second-eldest daughter, Mary Call, promise to take care of her siblings when he’s gone. After their father passes away, Mary Call keeps her promise and secretly buries him on the mountainside, determined to keep their loss a secret in order to hold the family together.

Mary Call and her siblings must now survive on their own through resourcefulness and teamwork, taking up foraging for medicinal plants and herbs to make ends meet. Keeping their secret proves challenging, especially when their landlord starts coming around with romantic interest in the eldest daughter. Together, the siblings must balance maintaining their independence while avoiding suspicion, all while dealing with the harsh realities of poverty and the approaching winter.

Based on the novel, this forgotten drama from 1974 captures both the hardships and dignity of mountain life, exploring themes of family and self-reliance, showing how poverty doesn’t diminish the worth or determination of those who face it. Rated G, the film depicts struggle and poverty with honesty, yet maintains a tone of resilience and hope rather than pessimism. Given the nature of the premise and the film’s slower pace, it may be better suited for older children.

Runtime: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rated G
USCCB rating: A-I
IMDb Parents Guide
Is it streaming?