Memories of a troubled brother come to sensitive life in the exquisite ‘Blue Heron’

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Sophy Romvari’s first feature film, “Blue Heron,” is a tender and thoughtful tribute to the past. The main character, Sasha (played by Amy Zimmer), tries to learn about her family’s history by carefully revisiting it. Although she doesn’t find all the answers, the process itself is beautiful and comforting, potentially even healing.

“Blue Heron” tells the story of Sasha’s life, and is best described as a memoir. Sasha acknowledges she has few clear memories of her childhood and questions their accuracy, but she’s determined to explore them. The story begins as she looks at old photos on her phone, and we’re transported back to the 1990s, witnessing the arrival of her Hungarian immigrant family – her parents, three brothers, and sister – at their new home on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Dad (Ádám Tompa) works on the computer at home, while Mom (Iringó Réti) tries to keep the kids entertained with outings to the beach and parks. We see summer through the eyes of 8-year-old Sasha (Eylul Guven), captured in photos taken by her parents.

However, a troubling figure hangs over the family: Jeremy, the oldest son. He stands out physically from his siblings with his blonde hair and delicate features, and his quiet defiance creates a tense atmosphere.

Honestly, at first, his behavior seemed pretty harmless – just little annoyances, like endlessly bouncing a ball or wandering off. He’d draw these incredibly detailed maps, and sometimes he’d be really sweet with his brothers and sisters. It was the kind of stuff you might expect from a restless teenager. But it wasn’t completely harmless, because these little things started to build up, and you could tell things were about to escalate. It went from being mildly irritating to something I really started to worry about.

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The film’s title comes from a keychain Jeremy, a very quiet character, gives to his sister. Like Jeremy himself, the movie is calm and thoughtful, with a cool, natural color scheme thanks to Maya Bankovic’s beautiful cinematography. It feels like stepping into a world of peaceful beauty and endless time. However, there’s a subtle tension within the family, reminiscent of Chantal Akerman’s classic film “Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles,” a connection highlighted by a scene of a mother and daughter peeling potatoes.

However, “Blue Heron” isn’t just a typical story about a difficult childhood. The film jumps forward twenty years, focusing on Sasha as an adult still affected by her brother’s absence. She tries to understand his past through her work and personal life – by conducting interviews with social workers for a documentary, reviewing old videos and photos, and even losing herself in classic films. She’s actively trying to piece together what happened and how he was treated.

In her critically acclaimed 2020 short film, “Still Processing,” a follow-up to “Blue Heron,” Romvari explores the grief of losing her two brothers through photography. She carefully examines old photos and film taken by her father, a trained cinematographer from Hungary. It’s fitting that Romvari turns to art to express her feelings, giving herself and her sister Sasha a tangible way to cope. The physical act of handling the photographs in “Still Processing” helps connect her to the past. As she lays them out, she softly greets her brothers, but the film’s careful attention to the snapshots also seems to create a distance, perhaps shielding her from the overwhelming pain of her loss.

In a movie like “Blue Heron,” almost anything can happen, even traveling through time. For Romvari, this ability offers Sasha a chance to find peace by revisiting a time she’s barely aware of, all while she’s also gathering memories to strengthen herself.

When young Sasha is observed – and Guven excels at observing – the older Sasha begins to talk. Actress Zimmer, known for comedy, delivers a powerfully moving performance, completely believable even in quiet moments. She’s also incredibly articulate, speaking with a genuine and touching honesty, particularly when Sasha reads a letter to her parents.

For me, “Blue Heron” feels like a filmmaker trying to genuinely recapture a lost time, to breathe life back into memories. It’s not about perfection, but about the power of remembering itself – a really beautiful, personal act of love for family and for understanding who you are.

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2026-04-24 23:31