Blue Car

Play trailer

Blue Car

R

2003

1h 36m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Meg is a gifted but emotionally scarred 18-year-old. Meg finds solace in writing poetry. Mr. Auster, her English teacher, recognizes her talent and steps into the role of mentor and father figure, encouraging her to enter a national poetry contest for which he is a judge. As tension at home escalates and Meg struggles to find a way to get to the poetry finals in Florida, Auster's role in her life becomes increasingly complex.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A cautionary tale that rings true.

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

03/07/2018

There's nothing flashy about Moncrieff's filmmaking, and there doesn't need to be: from the start, she gets the emotional details right, and the viewer feels intimately engaged with the young protagonist. It's a powerful, fresh, honest debut.

Go to Full Review

Bill Muller

Arizona Republic

06/12/2003

3/5

Worth watching for the coming-out party of Agnes Bruckner, a relative newcomer who shows her mettle with an extraordinary performance in this very ordinary tear-jerker.

Go to Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Observer

06/11/2003

An impressive first effort from Ms. Moncrieff, but the eternal Aristotelian in me finds it depressing to watch characters always walking around in moral quicksand.

Go to Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

02/16/2021

Margaret Colin is excellent as the harried mother, making desperate and perhaps humiliating efforts to win promotion, unable to pay sufficient attention to her two daughters, alternately angry and tender.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/03/2020

3.5/4.0

One of the more stunning films I've seen on the subject of sexual abuse and family dynamics.

Go to Full Review

Film Threat

12/06/2005

2.5/5

Read all reviews

Stephen C

@bob25009 May 20

How did you **** this movie up?!!!

See more

09/29/2014

just ok coming of age tale

See more

Frances H

07/31/2013

Well acted and well made drama about a teen in crisis. What I found unforgivable was the betrayal of trust on the part of the teacher in the story--an adult, no matter how unhappy his life, only commits this kind act out of pure selfishness and to do such a thing to a girl he knows has been through hell is inexcusable. Everyone involved betrays their responsibility to this girl, and no one tries to get her the help she needs.

See more

05/06/2013

Brilliant pairing of Agnes Bruckner and David Strathairn in this disturbing tale. The way it explores vulnerability and motivation was impressive and I'll be looking for other films where the director, Karen Moncrieff has been involved.

See more

02/06/2013

A slow paced, beautiful and melancholic film that touched a nerve. Great performance from Agnes Bruckner. Amazing film considering it is writer/director Karen Moncrieff's film debut and was edited on an apple computer. Stunning.

See more

08/16/2012

Gripping, raw, dramatic, real, sad, but not too melodramatic. Everything an indie drama should be.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Karen Moncrieff

Director

David Strathairn

Auster

Agnes Bruckner

Meg

Margaret Colin

Diane

Frances Fisher

Delia

A.J. Buckley

Pat

Soldier's Girl

89%

87%

Soldier's Girl

Watchlist

Dinner With Friends

90%

45%

Dinner With Friends

Watchlist

Passion Fish

100%

82%

Passion Fish

Watchlist

Next Stop Wonderland

73%

74%

Next Stop Wonderland

Watchlist

Welcome to Sarajevo

80%

74%

Welcome to Sarajevo

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Meg is a gifted but emotionally scarred 18-year-old. Meg finds solace in writing poetry. Mr. Auster, her English teacher, recognizes her talent and steps into the role of mentor and father figure, encouraging her to enter a national poetry contest for which he is a judge. As tension at home escalates and Meg struggles to find a way to get to the poetry finals in Florida, Auster's role in her life becomes increasingly complex.

Director: Karen Moncrieff
Producer: Peer J. Oppenheimer, Amy Sommer, David Waters
Screenwriter: Karen Moncrieff
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $464.1K
Runtime: 1h 36m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now