Blue Film

EIFF Film #5

Blue Film really challenges you with its content, and whether or not you’re able to detach yourself from said content to judge the film and arguments being presented to you.

It’s small and super intimate. The film is just two characters, both of whom seem to be guarded. Slowly but surely the film is uncompromising in how it strips back both of them to reveal who they really are inside. The film is stuffed full of conversations which are quite uncomfortable, but what’s quite powerful is how the film challenges you to sit in that and be confronted with the horrors being spoken about. Should you also give this character grace, like the film seems to want you to?

For the most part the entire film takes place inside this house, the two characters move around the house, unpacking each other’s baggage and getting various levels more intimate. The only real breaks in this format is home footage of a young Alex. This footage is used at the start of the film, as the title cards, as a powerful contrast from where the adult Alex has ended up, the loss of innocence.

This footage then takes on a harrowingly different meaning as it’s interspliced in between the film, and, while uncomfortable, it’s genius. It really pushes the viewer to contend with the ideas the film is positing. It’s also a stark reminder of the subject matter that’s being explored in the film. Before you’re able to sink too deeply into this oddly compelling, yet very much disturbing relationship, you’re thrust back into being reminded who these people are to each other.

There’s another moment where the edited is used to harrowing effects that made me genuinely concerned as to what was about to be shown. Just really a showcase in how effective editing is at holding your feelings and guiding you where is so chooses.

It’s an incredibly heavy and harrowing topic this film covers, and something which could very easily slip into being too lenient on its characters, or come off so critical that it allows no room for discussion, and it manages to strike this balance somewhat well. Some scenes are really just uncomfy to sit through but this is the point.

The film is gorgeous, for being confined to such a small space, I was almost shocked at the variety and depth to the way this was filmed. The colouring is just phenomenal, again with such few locations, it’s shocking how good and varied it looks. The lighting as well, there just seemed to be such a command over the space that was being used. It managed to set the atmosphere so perfectly, it felt taut and uncomfortable and when daylight makes it way into the film, how this managed to contrast everything that came before was just another reminder of how effective the colouring was.

Unflinching and deeply uncomfortable, that ends on a note that gave some sense of relief as to the questions being posited throughout. Perhaps the purpose of the film was the journey, it was to test your trust in this man and whether or not you would sympathise with a character who seemed to be in regret for what they did. The ending then packs a punch depending on how much you trusted this character, and perhaps that’s quite smart.

I should mention as well the performances are unbelievable. Kieron Moore is giving an awards worthy performance, the depth and nuance he brings this character is insane