Blue Car

Genre: psychological drama
Director: Karen Moncrieff
Release: 2003
Studio: Peer Oppenheimer Productions – Miramax Films
Rating: R
MBiS score: 8.1/10


School of Hard Knocks


It’s a good thing Meg Denning (Agnes Bruckner) has a penchant for writing because, in other respects, her teenage life is hopeless at best. She still aches from her parents’ divorce, has to work part-time outside of school and also cares for her needy little sister Lily (Regan Arnold). As if that wasn’t enough, her English teacher (David Strathairn) is so impressed with her writing that he thinks she should enter a poetry contest. With Margaret Colin (Diane, Meg’s mother).

Seeing a bunch of films one after another is often a dangerous proposition. Comparisons can clog up your mind, tiredness may affect your judgment and, when your last viewing experience has been particularly potent, the next feature will usually let you down. As fate would have it, I saw BLUE CAR right after 21 GRAMS and, logically, Karen Moncrieff’s modest film should have been crushed by such a powerhouse… but it held its own without straining. Let this be a lesson for all of us: though they attract less attention in the movie universe, small films frequently offer good and even great value.

I’ll admit that BLUE CAR doesn’t look like much from afar but, once you sit down to watch it, you’ll discover that it has a lot going for it: daunting issues rooted in contemporary life, interesting characters that are very realistic and a set of circumstances both tragic and painful. Luckily for us, Ms. Moncrieff’s screenplay doesn’t try to sensationalize Meg’s problems but depicts them with a prudence and thoughtfulness that better reflect her inner turmoil. The film’s effectiveness is enhanced by good acting, especially by Agnes Bruckner and David Strathairn, a thespian known for restrained performances, and also by solid production values. Without a doubt, this movie is as sound as they come.

An enigmatic title doesn’t guarantee quality entertainment but it definitely does so in this case. Do watch BLUE CAR, a movie about one brave girl and the scars that life has prematurely inflicted on her. Once you’ve seen it, you will understand.


MBiS

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