Written and directed by Lisa Ivana Bruhlmann, Blue My Mind is a fresh take on the coming-of-age genre, mixing body horror and drama to interesting results. Exploring the effects of puberty, 15-year-old Mia is changing in ways one could never imagine. Calling her entire existence into question, she tries desperately to halt the process until she gradually realises that nothing can be done. With her transformation slowly taking place, Mia must come to terms with who she is and where she may have come from.
At times graphic and hard-hitting in nature, Blue My Mind is a fascinating insight into teenage angst and the way a young girls journey into womanhood can be an excruciating experience. A horror story in itself, Bruhlmann has been able to perfectly balance the body horror aspects with the personal plights of teenage life. Keeping things grounded for the vast majority of the film, she manages to focus on themes such as isolation, identity and sexual awakening to varying degrees of success. Whilst her directorial debut may be bold and brash in what it wants to say, it never feels over the top due to a terrific leading performance by Luna Wedler.
As Mia’s body begins to change, she finds her impulses also becoming harder to control. Whether that’s her sexual appetite or her desire to fit in, Wedler manages to effectively show her character’s fragility and fiery independence all at the same time. Holding the film together, Wedler manages to keep the audience on her side as her reckless behaviour slowly descends into chaos. Vulnerable to those around her, we’re able to witness the social pressures that teenage girls regularly find themselves in. Whether that’s to be desirable or promiscuous, Wedler’s performance is both raw and visceral enough to show us a young woman who’s trying to conform on her own terms.
Setting the tone, Gabriel Lobos’s cinematography manages to bring the most out of every scene whilst playing a big part in showing us Mia’s isolation. This is enhanced further thanks to some terrific sound design which gives us a strong overall sense of the film. Whether it’s hearing bubbles from the fish tank or the waves crashing from the sea, Mia’s transformation is given extra depth as her body slowly starts to resemble a mermaid. With the mythical sea creature having strong connotations with femininity there are plenty of symbolic ties that could be alluded to with an adolescent’s journey into womanhood.
Blue My Mind may bewilder some viewers, however those who want to watch an alternative coming of age tale will be more than pleased with this intriguing gem. Bruhlmann has shown in her first feature film that she is a more than competent director who is willing to take big risks in order to create something truly unique. Original in its approach and mature in its execution, Blue My Mind contains not just a great directorial debut but a brave and captivating performance by Luna Wedler.
BLUE MY MIND / CERT: 15 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: LISA IVANA BRUHLMANN / STARRING: LUNA WEDLER, ZOE PASTELLE HOLTHUIZEN, REGULA GRAUWILLER / RELEASE DATE: VOD OUT NOW
