I seem to be happening upon favorite movies lately, and it happened again on Wednesday night. Clicking aimlessly through channels on a night when even PBS had nothing of interest for me, on a night I just needed to escape with some television, there it was. Ulee’s Gold.
Earlier in the day, I made a special trip to the Elmhurst Farmers Market to replenish my honey pot. Whenever I can, I try to buy local honey, for all the reasons one should; supporting small, independent businesses, keeping the carbon footprint to a minimum, taste, and the fact that local honey really does help me come allergy season. Knowing a vendor who is usually at the market, I headed out for 16 ounces of local gold.
The beekeeper and I chatted, he reminding me to return the jar for reuse, me assuring him I would as a young lad stood nearby, sipping a honey straw as if it were the last drop of sweetness he would ever have.
The honey will last me for quite some time. I will return the jar in the fall and buy another for sweetening my tea over the long winter months, but, I digress.
Ulee’s Gold is about a reclusive beekeeper; a Vietnam veteran who still mourns his wife’s passing. As Ulee tends his hives, he finds himself suddenly tending his granddaughters and then their mother, his daughter-in-law, who is strung out on drugs. His son is in jail, and so the story unfolds, slowly, as we follow Ulee, played by Peter Fonda, and watch as he harvests his honey, Tupelo gold. The story is also about family responsibility and how Ulee slowly emerges from his solitary life as he helps and later protects his family as they heal. It is a movie that runs slow, like the golden honey that flows from the tupelo trees, and its cast, led by Peter Fonda, excels.
It was the hunt for honey in the morning and the discovery of Ulee’s Gold in the evening that had me a-buzz, for the movie ended my long day on such a thoughtful note, as the credits rolled and Van Morrison sang Tupelo Honey.
Penny, how wonderful to find gold on this day. I too found gold, and have just posted about it. I too bought honey, then I picked lemons for more drinks to help clear away the last vestiges of my cold. The movie sounds like my kind of story. I will look out for it. Thank you for sharing your gold.
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Indeed, you did, Juliet. We must have been posting around the same time, each at our computers on both sides of the hemisphere. It still brings a sense of wonderment to me. Your honey sounds wonderful, as do those lemons. Ulee’s Gold is a thoughtful story and I believe much of it was filmed at the actual location where the tupelo trees grow in Florida. You are welcome, Juliet. I hope you are soon rid of that cold.
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A very sweet post Penny. Honey sweet .. and I love the Van M.
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You are a sweet to say so, Joan. Thank you.
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Just listened to this album the other day!
I think I saw the movie but so long ago I remember nothing about it. Just added it to my Netflix queue. Thanks. I’m a big fan of honey.
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I think it was out in the 90’s. I’d forgotten quite a bit of it, Nan, so it was almost like seeing it anew. Me too.
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The best kinds of gold to find 🙂 Sounds like a wonderful film. It sounds like the central character has found a way to peace.
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Indeed it is, Kate. The best. The slow development of Ulee’s character by Peter Fonda is masterful. He won a Golden Globe for it.
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[…] Life on the Cutoff […]
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Penny, I too love honey in my tea. It sounds like this movie is golden. I have heard of it but have not seen it. I will have to rectify that.
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Do try to see it sometime, Andra. It is a slower moving film, for the most part, and so atmospheric, particularly the swamp scenes where the tupelo grows. I’m up late (or early) here and think I just may need a cup of tea – with honey, of course, to put me to rest.
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One of the few movies I can actually remember very well (and I’ve never seen it since that first time in the theater)! Whatever happened to Peter Fonda?
A cup of tea with local honey sounds good right now! (Our two days of summer are over and it’s bordering on kinda’ cool again.)
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The theater was we first saw this as well, Sallie, and it is one of those movies that actually stays with you, isn’t it? I think Peter Fonda is still around. He was in a Hallmark movie a few years ago. He has such a screen presence. I wish he was in more movies.
There is nothing quite like local honey, is there? I hope you have a few more warm days there, Sallie.
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I have a similar response to local honey, and it’s fun to pick up “local” honey when we travel. I like to put honey in my very plain Greek yogurt. And tea, too, of course. I never did see Ulee’s Gold and remember long ago that it was a title I was interested in, but then forgot about it. I love you book and movie reviews, Penny. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that Netflix streaming may offer it. I’ll check it out! And just to share with you, I do love Van Morrison! 🙂 Debra
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Oh, Debra, I do the same thing when traveling, loving local honey even if it isn’t my own locale. Honey is good with Greek yogurt. Have you ever added a few walnuts? I discovered some honey at an organic farm about 40 minutes from here that has honey with cinnamon. Bliss.
I think you would enjoy Ulee’s Gold. It is a thoughtful, beautifully rendered film and Peter Fonda is excellent as Ulee. I tend to forget about Van Morrison, then, a song pops up and off I go, remembering more and more songs. Need to put a disc in the car.
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A lovely post, Penny and thanks for the pointer to a film I’m afraid I’ve never even heard of. It sounds just my kind of story.
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Thank you, Perpetua. Ulee’s Gold is a story I think you would definitely appreciate. I hope you get to see it sometime. Nice to see you here. Penny
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