Flower's On Her Birthday — Darling Street Pictures

Poster & bird designs by Hansol Kim

THE STORY:
Miranda absolutely abhors celebrating her birthday but her clueless husband insists on throwing her a surprise party, leaving their two adult children to try and derail his plans before the family's schisms come to a combustive collision.

This film is part of the "Storm in a Teacup" world and is the sister film of “A Suit We Wear” with the same cast of characters and overlapping scenes.

Written & Directed by Eric Mann

Produced by Meera Joshi

Trailer

FLOWERS ON HER BIRTHDAY

“The greatest gift you can give me is to leave me alone.”

This line from Miranda, the mother of the family in the film, encapsulates why I made "Flowers on Her Birthday". The two themes of one’s inability to see beyond their own perspective and the isolation of self-imposed sadness collide as she pleads with her family to not to continue her surprise birthday party. The "Flowers on Her Birthday" screenplay is a culmination of my intimate observations of myself, family and friends as our preoccupation with our own happiness, self-delusions, and quest for purpose can blur our perspective on how we should treat others.
- Eric Mann

The Cast

Miranda
Stacey King
Stacey King is a New Zealand actress with a passion particularly driven towards the indie-film-industry. She’s been part of a number of projects in varying positions, from lead to extra, in both feature films and shorts such as; D — Miranda Stacey King Stacey King is a New Zealand actress with a passion particularly driven towards the indie-film-industry. She’s been part of a number of projects in varying positions, from lead to extra, in both feature films and shorts such as; Darkest Light (due for release December 2022), Flowers on Her birthday, The Maori Sidesteps, Colonial Combat, Wellington Paranormal, Wai Kino, and horror film Killer Sofa.

Oliver
Grant Beban
Grant returned to Acting aer a long career in Broadcasting and Hospitality and has been prolific on the Wellington drama scene over the last six years. Short films, feature films, commercials and corporate programmes all add to his — Oliver Grant Beban Grant returned to Acting aer a long career in Broadcasting and Hospitality and has been prolific on the Wellington drama scene over the last six years. Short films, feature films, commercials and corporate programmes all add to his resources to bring vibrancy to his characters and help him continually add to his cra. Grant is also a talented Dj with over 25 years of gigs in his ears.

Maia
Georgia Adams
Georgia Adams is a commercial dancer and actor from Wellington, New Zealand. She has earned a New Zealand Diploma in Dance, and an NZAMD Solo Performance Diploma ( jazz). She earned her Bachelor of Creativity at Te Auaha, NZ Instit — Maia Georgia Adams Georgia Adams is a commercial dancer and actor from Wellington, New Zealand. She has earned a New Zealand Diploma in Dance, and an NZAMD Solo Performance Diploma ( jazz). She earned her Bachelor of Creativity at Te Auaha, NZ Institute of Creativity.

Sylvester
Adam Herbert
Adam is a creative, living and working in Wellington, New Zealand. He began his professional career at 18 aer graduating high school and has become a well known multifaceted arts practitioner. You can find Adam writing, produci — Sylvester Adam Herbert Adam is a creative, living and working in Wellington, New Zealand. He began his professional career at 18 aer graduating high school and has become a well known multifaceted arts practitioner. You can find Adam writing, producing, lighting, operating, and acting in local and touring theater productions, as well as on screen in commercials, television shows and feature films.

Sonam
Sudeepta Vyas
Mumbai born Sudeepta Vyas is an Auckland based actor and co-founder of Prayas Theatre Group, New Zealand’s largest South Asian theatre/cultural organisation. She loves the challenge of making her audience laugh rather than cry. A — Sonam Sudeepta Vyas Mumbai born Sudeepta Vyas is an Auckland based actor and co-founder of Prayas Theatre Group, New Zealand’s largest South Asian theatre/cultural organisation. She loves the challenge of making her audience laugh rather than cry. A writer and creative consultant for not-for-profits, she volunteers as a guide dog boarder in her spare time.

Anika
Shama Shaheen
Shama Shaheen was born in Fiji and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand. She was determined to be an actor from the age of 5. Shama decided to pursue and fight the norms of her traditional environment to be the role model she was — Anika Shama Shaheen Shama Shaheen was born in Fiji and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand. She was determined to be an actor from the age of 5. Shama decided to pursue and fight the norms of her traditional environment to be the role model she was searching for on-screen. She recently graduated from Unitec drama school with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts acting for screen and theatre in 2020.

Stills From the Film

“Dad, we gave her flowers last year and I still have nightmares from it.”

“I have a lot of enemies, but with my family I can just relax and be happy.”

Flowers on Her Birthday Score

Composed by Ayrton Farias in Recife, Brazil

The music for the film is steeped in Brazilian jazz and was lead by our composer Ayrton "Sennóide" Farias, who is based is Recife, Brazil. He pulled together a band of exceptionally talented local musicians, including himself playing bass, for several days of improvisational sessions to find the right tone for the film. They were so prolific, they ended up recording almost an hour worth of music that Ayrton mixed into a full album “Flowers on Her Birthday (Original Motion Picture Score)”. You can find it now worldwide on streaming platforms such as Tidal, Spotify, and YouTube.