Hyde Park Pick: Blue Heron

I went into Blue Heron without knowing too much about either the story, or the production process which had brought it to the big screen.

That's one of the joys that can come with films which traverse the festival circuit like Sophy Romvari's feature debut. It's possible to watch them without the baggage of knowing every detail in advance. There’s buzz and excitement, a groundswell of feeling without the weight of expectations.

So, as a consequence I'm going to try make sure this recommendation carries the love I have for this film, whilst also making space for each audience member to engage with it on their own terms.

Set on Vancouver Island in the late 1990s, Blue Heron follows eight‑year‑old Sasha and her Hungarian immigrant family as they attempt to build a new life, only to be destabilised by the increasingly dangerous behaviour of her older brother, Jeremy.

The film is rooted in Romvari's own memories. It isn't dreamlike, more a creative rationalisation of the filmmaker's own story.  Aesthetically, it feels thoughtful and well-constructed, but never over styled or over designed, rather the feel is natural and leaves an abundance of space for the performances and the script to do the work. 

One of the big questions which hangs over the project is around how one can, as an adult, be at peace with the parts of our life which we were present for, yet also not  really privy to or in control of. Whether that's the conversations which unfold behind closed doors or which a child's ear can’t fully understand.

We have so little authority over our own story as a child, but how we engage with it as an adult has the potential to re-gift some element of power or perhaps just compassion for all involved. Romvari's film is full of compassion and care for every one of her characters and it makes for a startling debut.

Blue Heron is showing at HPPH from Fri 26 Jun. You can find times & tickets here.