Seldom has the fact that a movie is based on a true story made us so happy. To be honest, Wildflower is not as engaging as the message at the end: that all it takes is a desire to be happy to actually be that. We have all said countless times that it was the lack of responsibility in childhood and the ignorance of the problems around us that allowed us to be happy. But looking at Bea’s parents, we know that this is far from the case.
Sharon and Derek are acutely aware of their shortcomings, and as much as they let Bea take care of the household, they are clear that they would be just as happy without her simply because they want to be. It takes time, but we realize that Sharon and Derek are not ignorant. They are aware of how the world perceives them, but they see no reason to fight for its validation. To be honest, we see the practicality of it. It is not as if validation makes life easier. But few people realize this the way Derek and Sharon do. What they have is just pure love for each other and their daughter, and they absolutely never let it become a hindrance. We don’t live in a society that appreciates such purity of heart, and more often than not, by the time it is acknowledged, it is often too late for everyone. It breeds a special kind of loneliness in smart people and the not-so-smart ones, as depicted in the movie. But as long as you accept it as a part of life instead of letting it define your entire existence, you will be fine. We can go on and on about the message of Wildflower, but let us get to the narrative now.
What Was Bea’s Childhood Like?
Bea’s parents, Sharon and Derek, for lack of a better term, would be considered intellectually disabled. Derek was hit by a drunk driver when he was 12 years old, and his mental growth was stunted at that age. As for Sharon, her brain did not fully develop, and she was told that she could never live by herself. But it was love at first sight for Sharon and Derek, and soon enough, they were married. The parents of both of these people did not know what to make of this union but grudgingly accepted it. However, Bea was born soon after, and that just added to the stress on Sharon’s parents, who were housing the couple.
Peg wants Sharon and Derek to stay with them, as she doesn’t trust them to take care of the baby or themselves. But Derek decides that they must move out and live as a family, which they do. According to Bea, they lived a very happy life in the trailer park and, subsequently, in their home when they moved into it. But right from a young age, Bea had to take on more than her fair share of responsibilities. She had to take care of the dog, fend for herself, and even care for her mother. One day, when her dog ran away, Bea took out the car to follow it, calling it an emergency. But as expected, the 10-year-old crashed the car and invited child services to the house. Though they got out of the scuffle, Bea gave up the dog because she couldn’t take care of both her mother and her pet.
Bea spent the summer at her Aunt Joy’s house, and it was disorienting that someone else could take care of her. When she has a near-accident in the swimming pool, her uncle understands her situation and takes up a part of her upbringing, that of her education. That gives Bea some footing in her life. She is still the adult in her family, but she now has some scope for the future.
Why Does Bea Not Go To Prom?
We must say that for two people who the world claims are emotionally stunted, Derek and Sharon are surprisingly open-minded. They accept when Bea says that she is a lesbian, even though she is clearly messing with them. They don’t fight it when they come to know that Jesus was once a Jew, and they think it is a good thing because their relatives won’t be going to hell. Derek and Sharon are good people; in fact, they are better than most, and they have made a loving family with Bea. There is the problem of Bea being wary of how they are perceived since she was bullied for it as a child, but she learns to have confidence in them. When she starts dating a boy named Ethan, who accepts them wholeheartedly, she realizes that she need not skirt around them any longer. It is really satisfying when she stands up to her longtime bully for her condescending, classist remarks and shows her her place.
Bea is a hardworking girl, and soon enough, she gathers enough money to go to Disneyland and buy a dress for prom. But she loses that money when she has to bail out her mother from jail, who was arrested when some boys tried to get her to buy alcohol for them. Bea is frustrated at having to be the caregiver and gets into an ugly fight with her parents. When she decides not to go to college because she has to take care of them, Ethan breaks up with her. He believes that she is using them as a crutch to avoid facing the real world. Bea is upset, but she finds it in herself to make up with her best friend at least. Nia has been mad at Bea for going to prom after they both made a pact not to go. But now that Nia has a date, and Bea encourages her to not hold herself back.
‘Wildflower’ Ending Explained: Does Bea Go To College?
To get over the fact that her life is falling apart, Bea tries to do the one thing that is in her control: sell the raffle tickets so that she may be able to go to Disneyland. However, she gets drunk, and when someone tries to take advantage of her, she steps out of their van and throws up all over. Luckily, the boys take her to a hospital, where she is in a coma for a while. Her entire family is there to take care of her, and when Bea opens her eyes, she knows that she is not alone. Bea and Ethan patch up soon after.
Meanwhile, Bea has always wanted to go to college, and her professor has told her that she can with the grades she has. Bea has been hesitant due to her responsibilities, but she decides to have an honest talk with her father, who tells her that he, like any other parent, wants her to move ahead in life. This gives Bea courage, and she applies to the college she wants, and lo and behold, she gets in. Even her grandparents are happy with her achievements and decide to look past their grief at their children’s conditions to celebrate the achievements of their grandchild. Wildflower has a happy ending for everyone, and it was only possible because they loved each other without taking that love for granted.
Final Thoughts
As we said before, it is easy to assume that Derek and Sharon were happy because they were ignorant. But we know that this is far from the case. When Bea was 10 years old, she told her father how her classmate was calling them retarded; he was sad at his daughter having to face that and the unjust judgment of the world towards them. Years later, he canceled his wife’s disability check because he did not consider her to be in that category. We are not commenting on the economic intelligence of the decision but on the emotional one. Derek knew what people said, and he had his own ways of fighting it. Finally, despite how much Bea took over for them, Derek and Sharon never planned on relying on her for their entire lives. They wanted her to spread her wings and did everything they could for her, as any parent would, and that means a lot. We are always quick to jump the gun about what is normal or not, but seldom do we ever stop to consider the nuances of a situation. Thank God Bea’s family never let that deter them from their happiness.
