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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  • Dual Layer ( )
  Languages
  • German: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  • Commentary - English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
    English, German, Italian, English - Hearing Impaired
  Extras
  • 13 Deleted scenes
  • Audio commentary

Blue Car

Buena Vista/Buena Vista . R4 . COLOR . 84 mins . MA15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

When we consider the rate of change we go through in our teenage years, it’s amazing any of us get through it. Our bodies are in constant flux, our emotions too, we’re learning social behaviours and on top of all that we’ve gotta cope with pimples.

For Meg, living with her younger sister Lily and neglectful mother is tricky. Their dad abandoned them years ago and Mom is never home in trying to support the family. Meg is practically left to raise her kid sister alone, but can’t quite manage it and this leads to Lily becoming hospitalised. Meg has a talent for writing though and with the constant support and tutorage of her teach, Auster, looks like she’ll get to compete in finals in Florida.

However, the events leading up to the trip seem destined to keep her from the finals and she must resort to other means to finance the trip. Meanwhile, the attraction between Mr. Auster and her grows, with her seeing a father figure and he, well, seeing an 18-year-old hottie.

This is a slow mover as far as films go, only gradually dishing out interesting titbits and holding over us the allure and awkward promise of a final confrontation of the feelings between Meg and Auster. There are certain matters in the film that are glossed over rather than explored and this leaves a dulled sense of emptiness where we should receive more as an audience. The angst of the central character of Meg is also underdeveloped, concentrating on the consequences of her need for a father figure, rather than the reasons she is bereft of her own father. He appears as a bit part character at times, though there is no real exploration of the hows and whys of the relationship divide. This leaves a few socks hanging on the line by the end and again leaves the hollow feeling of a not-quite-complete story.

Still, performances are great, with Agnes Bruckner in the role of Meg shining throughout and perfectly capturing the horrors of early-adulthood. All at once an innocent child and a concentrated adult, her portrayal of a teenage girl pulled in several directions is wholly authentic and the real substance to this film.

I would recommend this one for those folks who aren’t concerned in particular with content but just the subtlety of a meandering story that isn’t necessarily leading anywhere. Probably having more appeal to women than fellas, Blue Car is an evocative portrait of the worst years of our lives and those who can so easily fall prey to the vulnerability within. Definitely not for everyone, it does tell its story a little sluggishly and this will find some attentions wandering, although the piece is relatively short at 84 minutes.

  Video
Contract

Although shot in 2001, the film still suffers some occasional detrimental moments. Interior darkness shots get continually grainy, while even one or two night shots suffer the same fate. Overall the picture quality is fairly good though, with no detectable film artefacts. Blacks and colours are natural enough, as is flesh toning, but the shadow detail is wholly non-existent. The anamorphic 1.85:1 picture doesn’t necessarily use a lot of its range of width, but looks great nonetheless with some very nice shots improvised from what was a fairly cheaply produced film.

  Audio
Contract

This is a first for me. The English soundtrack is delivered here in Dolby Digital stereo, while the Italian and German tracks get DD 5.1 surround setups. The stereo is still fine though and does alright in propelling this strictly talkie affair at us. Dialogue is all clear and although a little cheesy in parts this is entirely deliberate and contributes to the overall angsty awkward atmosphere of the film.

The musical score is a later addition from the original when the film was played at the Sundance festival and this gives a very lyrical feeling that ties together with the whole writing/poetry theme. This ‘second’ score was created by Adam Gorgoni and is a nice overall piece that suits very well.

  Extras
Contract

Just the two here, with the first being a quite interesting audio commentary. The director Karen Moncrieff speaks evenly and openly and gives some nice insight into her feelings about this self-scripted film. Although what I term a ‘one-man-band’, she speaks in a pleasant and chatty manner that doesn’t get too dull.

Then there are just 13 deleted scenes which include an alternate opening (for a change). These also come with the optional director’s commentary should you desire it. (I might recommend the ‘unedited sex scene’ one with the commentary as this paints a wholly different picture to the film).

  Overall  
Contract

While Blue Car didn’t really grab me a great deal, it did manage to convey the awkwardness of the lead character very well. This is attributed as much to the director as Agnes Bruckner and is probably the best strength of the film; this transferal of emotion. Unfortunately, some instances where this could have been employed as equally are not explored and this leaves the film a little emptier than it could have been.

However, for anyone after something with an emotional weight rather than a comedy or action film, there may well be much to take from this film. While I could watch it, I can’t imagine a uteful of blokes getting into it, so it’s probably more of a chick flick than anything else.


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      And I quote...
    "While performances are pretty spot on here, the content may find the average viewer feeling a little let down by incomplete threads..."
    - Jules Faber
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Teac DVD-990
    • TV:
          AKAI CT-T29S32S 68cm
    • Speakers:
          Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
    • Centre Speaker:
          Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
    • Surrounds:
          Teac PLS-60 Home Theatre System
    • Subwoofer:
          Akai
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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