American Cowslip

{{for|the plant American cowslip|Primula meadia}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = American Cowslip | image = American Cowslip.jpg | caption = Theatrical film poster | director = Mark David | writer = Mark David Ronnie Gene Blevins | producer = Mark David Ronnie Gene Blevins Brent Clackson | starring = Diane Ladd Rip Torn Cloris Leachman Bruce Dern Hanna R. Hall Val Kilmer Peter Falk Ronnie Gene Blevins | cinematography = Mark David | editing = Jonathan Lucas Mark David | music = Joseph Blaustein Mark David | studio = Buffalo Speedway Film Company Muper Films | distributor = Buffalo Speedway Film Company | released = {{Film date|2009|7|24}} | runtime = 113 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }}

'''''American Cowslip''''' is a 2009 American independent comedy film directed by Mark David.<ref name="MarkDavidInterview">{{cite news |last1=Zotta |first1=Chelsea |title=American Cowslip |url=http://www.ifqmag.com/?albdesign_popup_cpt=1171 |access-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930222602/http://www.ifqmag.com/?albdesign_popup_cpt=1171|archive-date=30 September 2018|work=Independent Film Quarterly|url-status=unfit}}</ref> It revolves around heroin addict, Ethan Inglebrink, whose life is centered on his garden and his group of eccentric friends. ''American Cowslip'' is David's third film, following his debut, ''Sweet Thing'' (1999), and his second, acclaimed feature, ''Intoxicating'' (2003). It was Peter Falk's final film role.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peter Falk, Columbo actor, dies aged 83 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/jun/24/peter-falk-columbo-actor-dies |access-date=5 July 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=24 June 2011 |language=en}}</ref>

==Plot== Ethan Inglebrink (Ronnie Gene Blevens) is an agoraphobic heroin addict who lives in a homogeneous California town where nothing ever happens. A misfit, clad in a powder blue tux, he has convinced his poker buddies, and surrogate moms, Roe (Diane Ladd), Sandy (Cloris Leachman), and Lou Anne (Lin Shaye), that he is diabetic and his needles are for insulin, not heroin. His next-door neighbor is his landlord and former high school football coach Trevor O'Hart (Rip Torn), who wants nothing more than to kick Ethan out on the street. Complicating matters even further is that Ethan's older brother Todd (Val Kilmer), the local sheriff, is convinced that his brother can only be saved by an act of God, and recruits the family priest (Peter Falk) to get the job done. Meanwhile, as the Garden of the Year competition draws near, Ethan becomes convinced that he can take the $10,000 top prize and pay off his delinquent rent if he can just grow the perfect American Cowslip. Little does Ethan realize that salvation may lie not in the money he could win for growing a rare flower, but with the companionship and understanding offered by his 17-year-old neighbor Georgia (Hanna R. Hall), who longs to escape her abusive father (Bruce Dern).

==Cast== * Ronnie Gene Blevins as Ethan Inglebrink * Val Kilmer as Todd Inglebrink * Diane Ladd as Roe * Rip Torn as Trevor O'Hart * Cloris Leachman as Sandy * Lin Shaye as Lou Anne * Josh Perry as Billy * Peter Falk as Father Randolph * Bruce Dern as Cliff * Tom Huddlestone as Rabbi Dave * Priscilla Barnes as Samantha * Hanna R. Hall as Georgia * Blake Clark as Grimes * Trevor Lissauer as Jim Bob * Erik Fellows as Rourke

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0850648}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|american_cowslip}}

Category:2009 films Category:2009 comedy films Category:American comedy films Category:2009 independent films Category:Films set in California Category:Films about substance abuse in the United States Category:2009 English-language films Category:American independent films Category:2009 American films Category:English-language independent films Category:English-language comedy films