Wildflower

Upon viewing the movie trailer, my initial expectation was a comedy, and nothing beyond that. However, what I encountered exceeded my expectations by a substantial margin.

The acting was truly exceptional, and I found it impossible to harbor any dislike for any of the characters in the film. The reason I felt this way is because each character felt incredibly genuine, and each individual was left grappling with their own distinct challenges - whether they wanted to or not. Life essentially confronted nearly every character head-on, and you could sense it; not necessarily in a negative manner all of the time, but rather in a matter-of-fact way. Nearly all of the characters involved in the storyline found themselves compelled to undergo personal development in some way as a result.

This movie also has a "feel good" aspect to it, as much it has dramatic tones. This cinematic experience goes to show how strong the bond between a family can be when they undergo challenging situations. This motion picture takes love and contempt to such lengths that it challenges the boundaries of relationships to such extents, that it ultimately serves as a heartfelt reminder that reconciliation among friends, family, or even romantic love interests is often possible - even when it all seems too late.

Wildflower, Matt Smukler's debut feature, follows Bea, a plainspoken teenager navigating life with neurodivergent parents. The film follows Bea's high-school drama, cheeky romance, and the struggles of her best friend and relatives. The film is inspired by Smukler's family and features a cast of distinctive characters. Kiernan Shipka leads an endearing cast in her animated portrayal of Bea, who lies comatose in a hospital bed, surrounded by worried family members. The film explores Bea's life from childhood to the recent past, narrated by her omniscient subconscious in VoiceOver. Bea's intra-family relations, resentments, and communication style are explored through flashbacks. Her feuding grandmothers Loretta and Peg, her neurotic aunt Joy, and her anxious husband Ben, are all involved in their bickering. Bea's parents, Sharon and Derek, are calm and collected, maintaining a steady faith that their daughter will wake up. Bea grew up hearing other adults describe her parents as "special," a euphemism for neurodivergent. Bea recounts how Sharon and Derek met, the rush of their marriage, and the thrill of her birth. However, everyone else, including Peg and Earl, struggle to trust their daughter to make her own decisions. Loretta, Derek's mother, harbors animus for Sharon's family but seems less fazed. There is an unacknowledged but suffocating assumption that the new parents simply can't do it. Wildflower is a film that reinterprets the experiences of disabled characters through the perspective of a child turned caretaker, Bea. The film follows Bea's journey from her early years in a mobile community to her senior year in Las Vegas, where she learns valuable lessons about her parents and their neurotypical lens.

Bea's early years are filled with adventure and freedom, but her exposure to life outside her immediate family leads to a decrease in her tolerance for Sharon and Derek. She reads their laid-back attitude as clumsy and finds their carefree approach frustrating. After a driving lesson goes wrong, Bea is sent to live with her aunt Joy and Ben, who teach her skills she missed out on but annoys her. Wildflower quickly moves on to Bea's senior year, where she hawks school raffle tickets with her best friend Mia, hoping to win a free trip to Disney. Her attitude changes, but she still has a renewed appreciation for her parents. The film gains momentum when it settles into Bea's recent past, chronicling her romance with Ethan, a fight with Mia, her guidance counselor's insistence on college application, and a petty feud with their high school's resident mean girl. The film highlights Bea's struggle to overcome her condescending relationship with her parents and everyone around her. When she starts to see them in the same light as the rest of the world, she overcompensates by turning herself into a caretaker, resurfacing childhood resentments and revealing hard-to-swallow truths. The film culminates in a tumultuous blow-up, but relationships are repaired, amends made, and Bea learns valuable lessons along the way.

I ended up watching this movie, in part because of the positive individual reviews I read here, which seemed much more enthusiastic that the 6 rating attached to the movie, and I'm so glad I did. This was an uplifting, emotional, and funny indie drama with an earnestness that I appreciate so much. I thought the script was really well-written, weaving a story through a complex set of conditions and emotions, giving the characters weight, and interest, and complexity. I was rooting for them, and frustrated with them, and feeling compassion for them, and understanding their humanity, all from moment to moment. The casting was superb, and the performances from everyone were so solid, particularly Shipka, who is an actor of great depth, and I can't wait to see her career grow over the years. So many moments made me feel, and it's one of my favorite movies of the last decade.

Honestly I was surprised to see the rating on here, my friends and I thought this was a really sweet and enjoyable film. The cast works well together and there is consistent humour throughout. This is a heartwarming story about family, and if you're in the mood for a feel-good film I would recommend the watch!

It does contain some mature themes and language which means it's probably not best for young children, but I think the film handles these topics in a way that isn't gratuitous or inherently explicit. The film is not shying away from very real and human topics and I appreciate that they do not overly censor these issues, but at the same time it does not glorify them either. Wonderfully handled, tbh!

Didn't know what to expect of this movie. The title sounds good and watched in on a plane. I was so pleasantly surprised with how good it is. It's not the usual challenges a teenager will face and the cast makes everything so believable. Great acting, good script and wonderful balance of family drama, emotions, comedy and a touch of romance. There are a few times I nearly tested up. The movie is well- paced and the comedy is good too as it keeps it light hearted amidst the sadness and fry you feel for the female lead in her challenges. Highly recommend to watch and it's watchable together with your family too.