Blue Heron

It’s a hot summer in the 90’s. The children run through the sprinkler in the yard, cartoons play on the tv, and dad’s enormous computer whirrs in the corner of the living room. The Hungarian blended family of 8-year-old Sasha has just moved into a new home on Vancouver Island in Canada. Yet a dark shade looms over the childhood summer as youngest child Sasha observes the difficult symptoms of her brother Jeremy. Jeremy is unpredictable, withdrawn, and menacing – and their parents are at a loss with him. Their whole house becomes a crisis zone into which friends from the neighbourhood can’t be invited. While the struggles within the family are viewed through the anxious ignorance of a child, the gaze that lands on Jeremy is one filled with love the whole time.

Sophy Romvari has carved a name for herself with her confidently personal short films, and maintains that style for her feature-length debut. Blue Heron blends two time periods and manages to depict the fragility of remembering with understated beauty. Grown-up Sasha has become a filmmaker who still endeavours to unravel the mystery of her brother. Old home videos, psychological explanations, and one’s own memories can only offer glimpses into understanding another person. The film functions like memory – including all its limitations.

Martta Tuppurainen (translated by Ailiina Saaristo)