Blue
BLUE is a feature length drama, based on true events, about a down-on-her-luck young woman suffering with mental illness. As the primary caregiver for her grandmother, and struggling to make ends meet with a misogynist boss, she finds happiness and an unexpected friendship with a man she meets due to personal tragedy. Upon her grandmother’s passing, she loses her purpose for living and attempts suicide.
Since she was five years old, she has fantasized about her own death. After taking rat poison to end her life, she is rushed to hospital where she barely survives. She is committed to the psychiatric ward, which is where we meet the rest of the characters. Here, she befriends a young, well meaning nurse who nurtures her recovery through the help of group therapy. When a successful business man offers her a position in his company, it is the first time someone has really believed in her and given her an opportunity to reveal her business savvy. She attends her weekly group therapy sessions, rarely saying a word but she shows up and gives the impression to all that life is now under control. Her secret is that she is self-harming by cutting herself.
But she is not the only one with a secret. Her newfound confidante is dying of AIDS. She tries to comfort him, but he is angry and embarrassed. Rejected, she slips into a deep depression and attempts suicide again only to be saved by her medical team.
Her second attempt at recovery is much more successful. She is able to cope with the passing of her friend, and takes control of her life and mental health.
The performances by the entire cast were exceptional, and it was great to see such diversity in the casting choices. Supporting characters were creatively introduced and lightened the difficult subject material when it was most needed. There were moments of overwhelming grief, but also a nice blend of humor and tenderness throughout.
There are many examples of life situations that we all deal with in one way or another – caring for elderly loved ones, struggling to pay bills, workplace harassment, and coping with mental illness for ourselves or loved ones are only a few examples. This is an important film because it sheds light on difficult situations, and hopefully begins a dialogue. Mental illness often lives behind closed doors, or is considered a taboo subject to discuss. We need to be able to talk to one another about these problems, and this movie encourages that.
The film was well written and directed, and the context within each scene was well portrayed. This is sensitive material, and was handled gently and with compassion. I can see this film winning awards at festivals around the world, and encourage audiences to share and discuss this movie with their friends and loved ones.
Our hero character really is a hero. Despite her illness and some of life’s setbacks, she overcomes adversity and reinvents herself. That is something many of us can learn a valuable lesson from.
