BLAZE

2022 / 103 min / color

In an instant, the carefree childhood of 12-year-old Blaze (Julia Savage) is lost forever. She accidentally witnesses a brutal attack on a woman and is left deeply traumatized. The concern expressed by her father (played by acclaimed Australian actor Simon Baker) is of little use to help her address the shock she has experienced. Blaze becomes catatonic and escapes into the realm of her imagination, the only place where she feels relatively safe. An imaginary magical dragon, her childhood companion, provides her with solace and helps her to understand what actually happened. The poignant storyline of Blaze is mirrored by its form, which combines live-action footage with original animation and techniques from puppet films. The debut feature from acclaimed Australian visual artist Del Kathryn Barton is a moving story about the vulnerability of a child’s mind and the surprising defense mechanisms it’s equipped with — Blaze is also a beautiful tribute to the power of our imagination.

• Neuchâtel IFF – Imagining the Future Award