Blaze

An introverted, imaginative girl on the cusp of womanhood experiences a life-alteringly awful event and the film follows her path to healing as she simulataneously crashes through the safe cocooon of her childhood into the adolescent reality of an imperfect, unjust world. Boldly envisioned by leading Australian Artist Del Kathryn Barton, this dark, beautiful and powerful film from acclaimed producers Causeway Films - (The Babadook, Talk to Me) packs a massive cathartic punch if you immerse yourself in the emotional journey of its central character. Breathtaking visuals, superlative sound design, a killer soundtrack, strong performances all round and an oscar-worthy bravura turn from the then barely 13 year old young Australian actress Julia Savage make for a profoundly affecting viewing experience.

When I had first watched this movie, I was immediately moved by it. The visuals are arresting and the performances, especially by the lead (a child actress nonetheless) are top tier. It easily sky rocketed to my top favorite films of all time, without question.

About 4 months after discovering this film, an incident occurred to me that I reported to the police. This incident left me with severe emotional trauma and nightmares. The healing process regarding that event has taken me a long while to get over it but I'm slowly improving. I'm rewatching this movie tonight and it's painful and scary just how accurate the depiction of PTSD and guilt is. This is an astoundingly beautiful film that should be seen by art aficionados and healing minds alike.

Blaze could have been so great. The concept sounds fantastic and Savage is doing a great job as the main. Most of the coming of age parts are actually really well done and the movie portrays the process of trauma management in a way that feels relatable.

However, the main hook of the movie is poorly executed. There is a huge disconnect between the style of the over the top candy colored visions of Blaze and the emotional minefield that its main characters navigate through.

Furthermore, these scenes are a one trick pony. Every single one of them blasts you with melodramatic pop songs with lyrics that are right in your face, there is no subtlety. There is no space to ponder about the meaning of what you're seeing because it screams it right at you. And quite frankly, it's annoying.

The moment I realized that each of these scenes will be like this was the most heart breaking moment of the movie. I don't say that to mock the people involved, I actually mean it. Because there is a ton of potential here, if these scenes were handled better this movie could have been one of this years best. But sadly it just screams: "look how childish, colorful, fantastic yet sad I am! Look at me! Look at me!" And boy, did that get on my nerves at some point.

Also, I don't think the make up and costumes are all that great in these scenes. The movie looks a bit cheesy and the dragon itself doesn't work as a character due to its design. It isn't emotional expressive which makes the movie fall apart in some scenes where it feels like Blaze had to actually say what the dragon is feeling.

These scenes rarely add something significant to the story. Some are outright pathetic (especially the ones near the end of the movie). And they felt out of place. Like they were tacked on as an afterthought.

In the end, this might have been the best time I had with such a flawed movie in a long time but it was so cringe inducing at times I couldn't fully enjoy the main story.

If you are more open minded about flashiness or if you don't feel the cringe with melodramatic contemporary songs featuring a howling singer than you might enjoy this movie way more than I did. But I don't think this was good enough to get a recommendation from me.

(Saw this at the Slash Filmfestival, Vienna)

It's like French people on drugs made a movie. Good quality. Good acting. Poor script.

It's one of those films that you keep hoping will get better, but it never does.

It's one of those films where you want to cheer for the main character, but she's so screwed up in the head that there's never much to cheer for.

How would I describe this movie?

Dull, boring, with an ending that was equally dull and boring.

Mental illness is sad. Pretty sure most people understand that point. I don't think most people need, or want it smashed into their face the way this movie does it.

Rape, and murder are both disturbing, and bad - most people understand that too ; however this film could have been done better.

Blaze is not a movie for everyone. And I'm still not sure if it was for me. The movie is about trauma and how people cope with it. But unlike what you would come to expect from a movie about such heavy topics, it puts a uniquely interesting spin on it with its gorgeous visual language and its dream-like vignettes.

The movie starts strong. The first act of the movie; where we are introduced to the conflict is excellently done. Actors Julia Savage and Simon Baker put up brilliant performances to communicate the movie's emotions the way the filmmaker would have wanted for it to be. There's so much subtelty to it that it had me excited for what's to come.

Unfortunately its novelty fades and the movie seemed to have exhausted itself the more it went on, in my opinion. It just never capitalized on it's excellent start and becomes a little too indulgent and a little too aimless. And by then end, you're left with the feeling that Blaze had the potential to be so much more.

All that aside, I still appreciate this movie for what it tries to do. It's definitely a unique and colorful cinematic experience and one that could inspire new avenues of storytelling.