This debut feature about the intense relationship between an 18-year-old girl and her high school English teacher handles a difficult subject with an admirable mixture of sensitivity and frankness. Superbly acted by talented newcomer Agnes Bruckner and veteran actor David Strathairn, "Blue Car" will require extremely careful handling from Miramax, but critical kudos should be considerable. Previously showcased at Sundance, the film is also being screened at the Montreal World Film Festival. It is scheduled for release Nov. 8.
The story revolves around Meg (Bruckner), a sensitive teen with a talent for writing poetry. It is a gift that has been recognized by her solicitous teacher Mr. Auster (Strathairn), who has entered her in a national poetry contest, the finals of which are to be held in Florida.
Meg's home life is extremely troubled. Her parents have split up, and her beleaguered mother (Margaret Colin) is desperately working to try to make ends meet. Her deeply unhappy younger sister Lily (Regan Arnold) suffers from a compulsion to mutilate herself and eventually has to be hospitalized for her condition, which results in tragedy.
Meg's solace is her poetry, which provides her with an outlet to express her intense feelings, and the respect afforded her by Mr. Auster, who forcefully encourages her in her artistic pursuits and seems to display a great affection for her. Their complex relationship never veers into anything untoward, but when Meg finally makes her way down to Florida, where she meets Mr. Auster's bitter, alcoholic wife (Frances Fisher), things take a disturbing turn, calling into question all of our previously held assumptions.
Director-screenwriter Karen Moncrieff doesn't shy away from depicting the painful repercussions of the relationship, and her beautifully written screenplay provides characterizations and situations that ring true and display both credibility and complexity. She has elicited a marvelous performance from young Bruckner, who plays Meg with a mixture of blossoming sexuality, adolescent toughness and real vulnerability. Strathairn delivers a subtle, low-key turn that is consistently fascinating and keeps the audience guessing as to his character's motivations up until the very end.
BLUE CAR
Miramax Films
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Peer J. Oppenheimer, Amy Sommers, David Waters
Co-producers: Gene Viglione, Eric Karten
Director of photography: Rob Sweeney
Editor: Toby Yates
Music: Stuart Spencer-Nash
Production/costume designer: Kristan Andrews
Cast:
Mr Auster: David Strathairn
Meg: Agnes Bruckner
Diane: Margaret Colin
Delia: Frances Fisher
Pat: A.J. Buckley
Lily: Regan Arnold
Georgia: Sarah Beuhler
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The story revolves around Meg (Bruckner), a sensitive teen with a talent for writing poetry. It is a gift that has been recognized by her solicitous teacher Mr. Auster (Strathairn), who has entered her in a national poetry contest, the finals of which are to be held in Florida.
Meg's home life is extremely troubled. Her parents have split up, and her beleaguered mother (Margaret Colin) is desperately working to try to make ends meet. Her deeply unhappy younger sister Lily (Regan Arnold) suffers from a compulsion to mutilate herself and eventually has to be hospitalized for her condition, which results in tragedy.
Meg's solace is her poetry, which provides her with an outlet to express her intense feelings, and the respect afforded her by Mr. Auster, who forcefully encourages her in her artistic pursuits and seems to display a great affection for her. Their complex relationship never veers into anything untoward, but when Meg finally makes her way down to Florida, where she meets Mr. Auster's bitter, alcoholic wife (Frances Fisher), things take a disturbing turn, calling into question all of our previously held assumptions.
Director-screenwriter Karen Moncrieff doesn't shy away from depicting the painful repercussions of the relationship, and her beautifully written screenplay provides characterizations and situations that ring true and display both credibility and complexity. She has elicited a marvelous performance from young Bruckner, who plays Meg with a mixture of blossoming sexuality, adolescent toughness and real vulnerability. Strathairn delivers a subtle, low-key turn that is consistently fascinating and keeps the audience guessing as to his character's motivations up until the very end.
BLUE CAR
Miramax Films
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Karen Moncrieff
Producers: Peer J. Oppenheimer, Amy Sommers, David Waters
Co-producers: Gene Viglione, Eric Karten
Director of photography: Rob Sweeney
Editor: Toby Yates
Music: Stuart Spencer-Nash
Production/costume designer: Kristan Andrews
Cast:
Mr Auster: David Strathairn
Meg: Agnes Bruckner
Diane: Margaret Colin
Delia: Frances Fisher
Pat: A.J. Buckley
Lily: Regan Arnold
Georgia: Sarah Beuhler
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 8/21/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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