Julia on the Meaning of 'Fireflies in the Garden'

By

For her next project, Julia Roberts took on a very personal story at her husband's insistence. The film, Fireflies in the Garden, takes a hard look at the family skeletons that haunt us all, and the actress explained the complex themes to ET's Nancy O'Dell.

"Fireflies in the Garden, for me, just the whole idea of it is trying to find that most authentic love and acceptance in a family," said Julia.

In the movie, Ryan Reynolds plays Michael Taylor, a romance novelist who returns to his Midwest home for his mother's (Julia Roberts) college graduation, many years after she left her education behind to raise her children. But when tragedy strikes amid the celebration, Michael must face his biggest obstacle -- his father (Willem Dafoe) -- as the family grapples with their sudden, devastating loss.

Making the movie, too, was a family affair, as Julia's husband Daniel Moder acted as director of photography.

"He was so supportive," said Julia, who explained that she enjoyed feeling as if they were "together all the time". 

Directed by Dennis Lee (Jesus Henry Christ), Fireflies in the Garden also stars Emily Watson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Ioan Gruffudd, Shannon Lucio and Hayden Panettiere.

The movie opens October 14.