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Blue Car

Play trailer Poster for Blue Car R 2003 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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Blue Car

Blue Car

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A cautionary tale that rings true.

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Critics Reviews

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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
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 05/20/2025 How did you **** this movie up?!!! See more 09/29/2014 just ok coming of age tale 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 07/21/2012 Small but recommendable film about a young girl, growing up in an unstable environment with a lack of people who care for her and various people abusing her. Agnes Bruckner gives an excellent performance as Meg. The story isn't something refreshing and new, but it doesn't disturbs me. The subject is handled very well and the co-actors are good as well. Excellent directing debut by Karen Moncrieff. She managed to make it a remarkable debut. "Blue Car" is an enjoyable film who's certainly worth watching. See more Read all reviews
Blue Car

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Cast & Crew

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Karen Moncrieff

Director

David Strathairn

Auster

Agnes Bruckner

Meg

Margaret Colin

Diane

Frances Fisher

Delia

A.J. Buckley

Pat

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Blue Car

Blue Car (2002) Blue Car (2002) Blue Car (2002) Director Karen Moncrieff with David Strathairn and Agnes Bruckner. David Strathairn and Agnes Bruckner in Karen Moncrieff's BLUE CAR. Meg (Agnes Bruckner) and Mr. Auster (David Strathairn) star in Karen Moncrieff's BLUE CAR. View more photos

Movie Info

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)