MAY–7–2025
Film critic Mathilde Refloch examines how filmmakers use flowers as powerful symbols across genres and eras.
Words by: Mathilde Refloch
For as long as I can remember, I’ve seen women receiving bouquets on screen — either because men wanted to seduce them, or because they were apologizing for something they had done. Those flowers never represented the heroines themselves, but rather, the feelings of the men who gave them. If bouquets were never made for us, filmmakers have used flowers to symbolize women. Just as there are countless varieties of flowers, there are countless varieties of women.
Alice in Wonderland (1951): Daisies, Youth, and Identity
“Do you suppose she’s a wildflower?” — the question the pansy flowers ask themselves when Alice enters the Garden of Wonderland. The daisies symbolize innocence and purity, representing Alice’s youth. In contrast, the pansy flowers' voices and remarks toward Alice mirror a societal trope about women: beautiful yet critical of those who don't meet their standards. Alice is belittled as a “wildflower,” a “weed”; she is young, carefree, and disheveled from her journey. Rejected by those pretty flowers, she experiences the same exclusion many young women feel when confronted by older peers. The daisies represent Alice’s carefree youth and the beginning of her self-awareness, a rite of passage that every adolescent girl faces. The garden’s rejection of her mirrors society’s tendency to reject and belittle young women.
Belle de Jour (1967): Orchids, Desire, and Duality
In Belle de Jour, orchids symbolize the complexity of Séverine’s sexual and emotional journey. They are either hidden in the background or gifted to her. Orchids represent beauty, mystery, and the tension between her respectable public persona and her secret life as a prostitute. Delicate and rare orchids mirror Séverine's hidden desires and character's duality; she is externally controlled and composed, but also seeks freedom and internal release from societal norms. In one scene, Séverine receives a bouquet of orchids from a client, tying the flower to her sexual awakening and the power dynamics of her interactions. Like the flower, Séverine finds a way to survive in a hostile environment, staying beautiful while embracing danger and surviving the world around her.
American Beauty (1999): Roses, Sex, and Perfection
The image of the young blonde woman, nude in a sea of red roses, became one of the most iconic posters of all time. Sam Mendes, the director of the 1999 film, doesn’t use the red roses to symbolize love, but instead, as a message of lust. The image of Angela Hayes is not only provocative; it highlights the hypersexualization and objectification imposed on her by the main character, Lester Burnham, and society at large. She is no longer seen as a person but as an object, like these roses. And, like them, she is fragile, withering under the pressure of the perfection society demands of her. Just as roses symbolize beauty, Angela, too, is viewed for her fleeting nature, a fate that every woman must face.
Frida (2002): Marigolds, Resilience, and Culture
Marigolds are bright golden flowers prominent in Mexican culture, known as cempasúchil, and are commonly used during Día de los Muertos to honor the dead while celebrating life. They are often symbolic of identity and resilience, perfectly reflecting the story of Frida, who escaped death but endured excruciating pain throughout her life, remaining vibrant and unapologetically expressive. Her strength mirrors the marigold’s bold hue and enduring bloom. Marigolds and Frida’s story embodies the strength of women who find ways to keep moving forward and bloom in the face of adversity.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006): Fig Blossoms, Mystic, and Rebirth
In Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, a mystical fig tree is decaying, symbolizing the oppression of post-war Spain. The young girl, Ofelia, battles against patriarchal violence throughout the film. Ultimately, she completes her journey from a child to a woman, much like the fig tree, which blossoms at the end, symbolizing rebirth and hope for Ofelia and the country. The fig blossom resonates with women enduring generational trauma and oppression, offering a glimpse of hope even in the darkest of times.
Midsommar (2019): The Wildflower, Freedom, and Transformation
Midsommar, although recent, has become a cult film in the "Good for Her" genre, and for good reason: the shot of Dani in that flower dress is stuck in many viewers' minds. Wildflowers symbolize freedom and suffocation in the film, reflecting how Dani feels trapped by her grief at the beginning. However, once she is crowned the May Queen, her body is enveloped by an overwhelming gown of flowers, signifying her newfound strength and power. The variety of wildflowers on the dress mirrors the different stages of Dani’s transformation. She evolves from a grieving woman in a toxic relationship to a queen who commands an entire village, ultimately living on her terms.
---
Since the beginning of time, flowers have been attached to women in Western society, but they don’t have to define just one type of femininity or love. Just as there are countless flowers on earth, there are countless variations of women. Everyone is complex, unique, and capable of blooming, even in the worst times — as many of these movies depict.