STORYLINE: A family of six settles into their new home on Vancouver Island as internal dynamics are slowly revealed through the eyes of the youngest child. (IMDb)

   The mind is a wondrous thing. It has brought so much beauty into this world, and ushered in so much horror. It has the ability to recognize all the different emotions.  It can cause pain and illness.  Films such as Girl Interrupted (1999), Sybil (1976),  A Beautiful Mind (2001), and We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) all discuss different mental illnesses, as part of their stories. The new independent feature Blue Heron is the newest motion picture to discuss the topic of mental illness. 

    There are multiple approaches, a film can take, when presenting any subject. There is the first person perspective, for instance, or an outsiders view looking in.  Blue Heron crafts a powerful narrative, presenting its story from the perspective of the youngest member of the family.

    The film is told over multiple years, as the family at the center of the film, struggle with the eldest child’s (Jeremy) schizophrenia.  Blue Heron features how the illness manifest itself in him, from an early age, and develops through the years.  Blue Heron shows the families emotional roller coaster, as they struggle to cope, and struggle as care takers. This is from the perspective of a young child struggling to understand the events of the film.

    The film shines on a couple of levels. The first is it lets the story develop naturally, instead of rushing to the next event. It is here viewers get to know the characters, and understand their struggles, instead of getting a greatest hits style highlights reel  of what they’re going through.  The second is the background is often filled with ambient noises or a very subtle, and turn down, musical score.  This lets the actors act, and contributes to the organic unfolding of the story.

   Blue Heron focuses more on what the family faces, in the day   to day, as they aid a child with a mental disability. This perspective tends to be the secondary focus in cinema. Putting it front and better created a personal, and intimate feature film.

    Blue Heron is a powerful drama about a families focus, as the eldest child struggles with schizophrenia, from an early age.  With a first hand perspective from the youngest family member, Blue Heron is an interesting look at the family dynamics, and struggles, with mental disorders

    Until next time, I will see you at the movies!