2022 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Indigo (Maye Harris) is a teenage girl with congenital heart disease. She lives a sheltered life, as her parents rarely let her do anything out of fear that something terrible will happen–and the fact that they are simply just a little odd. When Indigo befriends a young girl with heart issues of her own, Sarah (Ellie Adrean), the two form a bond that will change them. Broken Hearts tells the story of Indigo and Sarah as they attempt to liberate themselves from their health issues and their difficult lives.
Wet-behind-the-ears Harris and Adrean take center stage and present the world with a semi-soul crushing story of children with medical issues. No one (well most people) hate to see others suffering or in pain, but it’s especially difficult to stomach when that person is a child. With Indigo and Sarah both struggling with heart issues viewers are immediately connected to the story of Broken Hearts. These two young actors are interestingly talented. They don’t quite blow me away with their performances, but what happens is the innocence that each Harris and Adrean possess shines through in their characters. This beautiful innocence, one that allows them to typically see the potential in the world rather than the negative, is ever present throughout Broken Hearts, and that innocence propels the film forward, pulling viewers along for the ride.
Broken Hearts is fun. Yes, that’s a tough claim to make when you’re talking about a film regarding two sick children, but the fact remains that Indigo and Sarah’s journey is incredibly entertaining and full of fun. Again, the idea of innocence comes into play as viewers see two young girls attempting to live life to the fullest and find true happiness among the chaos. Seeing the two girls enjoy themselves amidst the terror of debilitating sicknesses is an eye opener, but, even better, it reflects the beauty that exists in the real world. This journey of excitement and attempted joy allows viewers to feel something akin to fun and enjoyment because it allows them to see something pure–rather than the often dilapidated world in which we see on the news every single day.
The juxtaposition that exists between Indigo and her parents, Francine (Emily Panic) and Dean (Bryan Felber), is an odd one, and, on the surface, it’s difficult to find anything but frustration. Again, Indigo is innocent, but full of life through her difficult endeavors–her parents are highly strung, glass half empty, hipsters that seem to find everything wrong with every situation. While they alone serve some purpose, their ability to heighten the meaning behind Indigo’s character is their primary purpose. This is a testament to the writing of writer-director Alessandra Lichtenfeld and co-writer Max Kaplow. Their ability to let the most important parts of Indigo shine by developing two odd, and frustrating, characters is a unique and risky choice–but it pays dividends by the end of the film. Viewers have to focus on Indigo and Sarah or the film fails–and by creating these highly unlikable characters, viewers feel comfortable leaving them in the background, moving on from their numerous shortcomings, and honing in on all that Indigo has to offer.
The character development happens quickly in Broken Hearts, and it forces viewers to focus. Beyond forcing them to focus, however, those viewers are able to see the beauty in everything else present in the film. A juxtaposition of characters and personalities, an overarching theme of innocence, and the ability to remind viewers of all the good things in life is what Broken Hearts brings to the table by way of Lichtenfeld, Kaplow, Harris, Adrean, and the others. The story is beautiful, and the message is pure–but the film as a whole is energetic, fun, and captivating.
Directed by Alessandra Lichtenfeld.
Written by Alessandra Lichtenfeld & Max Kaplow.
Starring Maye Harris, Ellie Adrean, Emily Panic, Bryan Felber, David Dittmeier, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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