Poppy

Poppy is a nineteen year old girl with Down Syndrome, but that's not what standing in the way of her living a normal life and falling in love and chasing her ambitions. Her disability is actually her overprotective, alcoholic brother, who is also her guardian and her boss. This movie has the makings of being an overbearing after-school special, but it never gives into its potential for melodrama. Instead, Poppy is an uplifting love story and character study of a young girl trying to find happiness. She might be "special" but her passion for life and her abilities to work hard and be a good person in order to succeed shows that "normal" is really a just a label we put on ourselves to hide our own issues and insecurities. The writing and directing are solid and the performances, even when stiff, manage to tug at the heartstrings - a much needed addition to this year's Slamdance Film Festival.

Poppy is a simple movie set in great locations.

Storyline is a very endearing 19 yo girl with down syndrome who is ambitious: She wants to become a mechanic.

Poppy is passionate about cars and she knows a lot about them.

With her natural charm she manages to learn the skills to become a mechanic.

She lives with her brother who has issues following the tragic loss of their parents.

Brother is lost and can only find some solace in alcohol.

Poppy is highly supportive of her brother.

It's inspiring to watch how someone with a condition like down syndrome can find ways to connect with others.

Casting was very good.

A nice little gem.

Poppy, the Down Syndrome film from 2021, is an absolute train wreck that manages to scrape the bottom of the cinematic barrel. This abomination of a movie is a slap in the face to anyone expecting even a modicum of quality in storytelling, acting, or filmmaking.

Let's start with the so-called "plot" - a directionless mess that wanders aimlessly, leaving the audience wondering if there was any semblance of a script involved. The inclusion of actors with Down Syndrome seems to be a desperate attempt to distract from the utter lack of substance, as if the filmmakers believed their half-hearted inclusivity could compensate for a complete absence of storytelling prowess.

The script, if you can even call it that, is a cringe-inducing display of incompetence. Dialogue is stilted, forced, and utterly devoid of any semblance of authenticity. Attempts at humor fall flat, resorting to offensive stereotypes rather than anything resembling clever wit. It's a disgrace that the filmmakers thought this lazy writing would pass for entertainment.

Cinematographically, Poppy is a disaster. The visuals are uninspired, with shots that seem haphazardly thrown together. It's as if the filmmakers had no interest in creating an aesthetically pleasing or engaging viewing experience, further demonstrating their complete disregard for the audience.

And let's not even get started on the performances. The cast, despite their potential, are shackled by a script that does them no favors. Instead of showcasing the talent of individuals with Down Syndrome, the film reduces them to mere caricatures, perpetuating harmful stereotypes rather than challenging them.

In their misguided attempt to be inclusive, the creators of Poppy have done a disservice not only to the film industry but also to the very community they claim to represent. It's a shameful display of incompetence that tarnishes the reputation of movies aiming for genuine inclusivity.

Do yourself a favor and steer clear of Poppy - a prime example of how a well-intentioned concept can implode spectacularly in the hands of those who lack the basic skills needed to produce a watchable film.

The one star reviews of this film are absolutely insane and come off as extremely ableist.

This is a film about a girl who's grown up, but her older brother/care taker struggles to accept that. It's an easy enough premise to understand. People claiming there's no semblance of a plot must not understand what a plot actually is?

The dialogue is a little awkward, but it's not unnatural. The acting is fine and of the quality you'd expect to see in smaller indie dramas like this.

The cinematography is nice and intimate, the supporting characters are warm and it's nice to see the community in her town being kind and supportive of Poppy. I especially liked Kali Kopae as Sophia. That's not to say the film ignores that some will treat Poppy poorly because of her Down's syndrome, that's simply not the focus of the film.

Poppy is without a doubt the worst film I have ever had the misfortune of watching. From the painfully awkward performances to the cringe-worthy dialogue, every aspect of this movie falls flat on its face.

The plot, or lack thereof, meanders aimlessly, leaving the audience bewildered and unsympathetic towards the characters. The filmmakers seem to have relied solely on the concept of featuring actors with Down Syndrome as a selling point, neglecting the importance of a compelling narrative.

The script feels like it was cobbled together by someone with no understanding of storytelling. Characters speak in unnatural and forced ways, making it impossible to connect with any of them emotionally. The attempts at humor are forced and often offensive, relying on outdated stereotypes rather than genuine wit.

The cinematography is equally lackluster, with poorly framed shots and a lack of visual creativity. It's almost as if the filmmakers expected the novelty of featuring individuals with Down Syndrome to excuse their lack of effort in every other department.

Moreover, the performances are cringe-inducing at best. The cast, regardless of their abilities, are given material that fails to showcase their talents. It's disheartening to see such a promising concept fall so flat due to the incompetence of those behind the camera.

In an attempt to be inclusive, Poppy sacrifices quality and substance. Instead of shining a positive light on individuals with Down Syndrome, it perpetuates the harmful stereotype that they cannot contribute meaningfully to the world of cinema. This film does a disservice to the entire community it claims to represent.

Save yourself the agony and avoid Poppy at all costs. It's a prime example of how good intentions can't salvage a film that lacks fundamental elements of storytelling and filmmaking.