Film Review - Blaze

Images courtesy of Motto Publicity and Bonsai Films.

Unique challenges face us all in trying to achieve self-discovery, but for Blaze it’s a little more tumultuous than what you’d expect. 

After witnessing a traumatic event, tucked away in a hidden alleyway somewhere in New South Wales, her journey from ice-cream munching innocence to dragon-born fury begins. What transpires next is an absolute mishmash of trauma induced compensatory imagination, alongside the firm grip of reality in what turns out to be a rather great movie. 

I don’t know what kind of budget Blaze was limited to, but it does not matter in the slightest. This is one of the best examples of small sets creating big impacts. In an amalgamation of every type of production available, Blaze braids live action, Claymation, puppetry, and animation to tell a story in the most unique way I’ve ever seen an Australian film do. 

The way director, Del Kathryn Barton, stitches it all together is visually distinct enough for audiences to stay conscious of what’s real and what’s not, yet seamless enough for reality to shift on a dime as Blaze’s sanity is tested by the big cruel world that awaits her in adulthood.

This is essentially a coming-of-age story, ripe with all the tropes you’ve come to expect (mental health, injustice, sexuality, confused parents) but it is breathtaking in its mix of bold imagery, depicting violence in graphic realism, and nuanced metaphors, typically enhanced by  Blaze’s hyperactive imagination which translates mature topics into a colourful splash of arts and crafts that any child could understand.

So, let’s give some more focus to the craftsmanship which is the blood and soul of Blaze. In summary: the designers behind these sets and costumes are not being paid enough. They could be billionaires and I’d still advocate for a raise on their behalf. While the spectacle of Blaze never takes away from the message in its narrative, without the standout visuals it may have just slipped into simply ‘good’ territory and that would’ve been a crime for such an exquisite story. 

And you know what? It’s a little bit of an afterthought for such a visually intense movie, but the actors in here really brought their A-game. We all know the stigma of, ‘oh, it’s an Australian movie… better prepare for less than average acting’ but let me assure you that this is not always the case! Not to detract from the unique skills of those having worked on Blaze, but I have been utterly recalculated in my stereotype of local movies. Australia is pretty good at this stuff!

Blaze is screening in cinemas from Thursday the 25th of August. For tickets and more info, click here.