Blue Heron

In the late 1990s, eight-year-old Sasha (Eyul Guven) and her Hungarian immigrant family relocate to a new home on Vancouver Island. While the younger siblings are as entranced by the surrounding nature as they are by the rudimentary paint programs on their father’s PC, the oldest child, Jeremy (Edik Beddoes), grows increasingly withdrawn, busying himself with elaborate hand-drawing maps of fantasy realms. As Jeremy’s erratic behaviour escalates, his family is gripped by a sense of powerlessness.

Having amassed an extensive filmography of internationally celebrated shorts, Sophy Romvari helms a staggeringly assured debut feature that’s richly detailed, sophisticatedly designed, and deeply felt. Kurt Walker’s adroit editing instills an enthralling rhythm that allows for seamless temporal shifts, including the introduction of an adult Sasha (Amy Zimmer). The shots composed by Romvari and cinematographer Maya Bankovic are nothing short of exquisite, and contribute to an atmosphere of haunting heartache that makes Blue Heron a truly indelible viewing experience.

May 8: Q&A with director Sophy Romvari

May 12: Discussion with local social workers

If you’ve ever imagined how you’d try comforting your younger self or your family about the uncertain future ahead of them, Blue Heron may be the most emotionally devastating film of the year — and also perhaps the most comforting.

Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire

Imaginative, emotionally acute filmmaking… Sophy Romvari’s graceful, singularly heartsore debut feature has a sharp understanding of how memories form and age.

Guy Lodge, Variety

Heartbreaking barely begins to describe it, although the terms masterful and transcendent also apply.

Nick Schager, The Daily Beast