Blueback movie review 2023

When marine biologist Abby receives news of her mother Dora's stroke, she rushes back to her seaside hometown to care for her. Memories of her childhood spent living in harmony with the ocean come flooding back, including her mother's battles to protect the bay from greedy developers and invasive fishermen, even if it sometimes caused friction in their relationship. Abby befriends a rare fish, Blueback, in the coral gardens, who becomes a symbol of her environmentalism and a reminder of her love for her mother and the vulnerable waters they call home. Based on Tim Winton's 1997 novella, Blueback is a poignant and visually stunning film about the passion for the ocean and the bond between mother and daughter. The film stars Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell, and Eric Bana and is produced and directed by Robert Connolly, with a release date of March 3, 2023, in limited theaters

Blueback is a visually stunning film that emphasizes the importance of protecting our oceans. However, the screenplay falls short in providing depth to the human characters, despite featuring top-level Australian actors. The underwater scenes are breathtakingly beautiful, but the overall story feels lackluster.

The film poses an essential question that it fails to explore fully: what is more meaningful, contributing to a global effort or working towards progress at home? This conflict is exemplified through the mother-daughter dynamic between Dora and Abby. Dora is fiercely protective of her cove from developers, while Abby is a marine scientist researching the impacts of environmental degradation on coral reefs. Despite being abrupt with the crew onboard the ship, Abby displays affection and gentleness towards the creatures in the fish tank. When she receives news of her mother's stroke, she rushes home, leading to a narrative that moves back and forth between the past and present. The flashbacks, while adding some incidents, add little depth to the story.

The mother-daughter conflict seems directed at an older audience, while the overall tone and cluttered narrative are aimed at younger viewers. The film lacks the emotional pull of other films geared towards younger viewers, such as Brie Larson's "Hoot" or the fact-based "Dolphin Tale." The film's uneven tone and narrative structure are distracting and make it difficult for the viewer to fully engage with the story.

The film's title refers to a large grouper fish that Dora and Abby encounter on Abby's eighth birthday. Abby is initially afraid, but Dora takes her to a secluded cove and explains that groupers can live up to 70 years and make a home where they stay. Abby names him Blueback, and they become close friends. The fish serves as a symbol of Dora's efforts to preserve the environment and its marine life. Abby makes striking watercolors illustrating the underwater world she has experienced.

Dora supports herself and Abby by collecting and selling abalone, ensuring she only takes one in three to maintain sustainability for future generations. She also fearlessly defends the ocean, even confronting Macka, a local fisherman, to ensure he is following sustainability limits. However, when a developer tries to buy her property to build a resort that would destroy the ecosystem, she refuses to sell. Abby steps in and presents the case to the local governing body, using her watercolors to showcase the beauty of the underwater world. Abby's determination to save not only Blueback's cove but all the other Bluebacks in the ocean drives the story forward.

While the film may be attempting to convey the quiet beauty of the underwater world, the message is muddled by the tonal languor and predictable beats of the story. The film's stunning visuals and important environmental message are not enough to overcome the lack of depth in the screenplay and the film's overall unevenness.

In conclusion, Blueback is a visually stunning film that highlights the importance of protecting our oceans. However, the screenplay's lack of depth and the film's uneven tone and cluttered narrative make it challenging for the viewer to engage with the story fully. Despite featuring top-level Australian actors and breathtaking underwater scenes, the film fails to evoke the emotional pull necessary to leave a lasting impact