By Juan P. Voorduin
Directed by Terry deRoy Gruber, Not Just Any Flower is a surreal, comedic exploration of art, miscommunication, and unexpected inspiration. Created in 1987 under the mentorship of Martin Scorsese while Gruber was a student at Columbia Film School, this short film has since earned a place in exhibitions at New York’s MoMA, cementing its status as a noteworthy artistic work.
The narrative unfolds as a bumbling man arrives for a date at the home of a woman whose house resembles a whimsical modern art installation. He offers her roses, only to have them immediately rejected. What follows is a series of absurd, slapstick-inspired events—breaking a decorative bust, accidentally putting a fish in the woman’s drink—that culminate in the man posing shirtless on her indoor “beach” set, sparking the woman’s creative epiphany and leading her to photograph him for an ad campaign.
The film’s comedic mishaps subtly underscore its deeper themes. The rejection of the roses and their eventual retrieval mirror the artistic process: ideas that seem unworthy at first can later bloom into unexpected sources of inspiration. Gruber’s use of vibrant visuals and quirky humor enhances this message, offering viewers a playful yet meaningful reflection on creativity and its unpredictable nature.
For audiences, the film’s offbeat tone and vivid aesthetic invite them to embrace the chaos of the artistic journey, where even the mundane or absurd can spark brilliance. The setting—a house resembling an art piece in itself—adds an extra layer, blending life and art in a way that reinforces the film’s central themes.
Through its colorful style, clever narrative, and humorous insights, Not Just Any Flower leaves a lasting impression, capturing the joy and serendipity inherent in the creative process.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Juan P. Voorduin is a screenwriter and film editor who recently graduated from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, with a BFA in Film and Television Production. He is passionate about all forms of storytelling and is driven by his love for film, television, and comic books.
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