MOVIE: BLESSED

Over one day and night seven children wander the streets of Melbourne. They each engage in mischief along the way, desperate to avoid homes where their parents don’t seem to care or have time for them. When morning comes, the viewpoint switches to the mothers, who are struggling to meet the demands of work, money and parenting. It isn’t until an accident occurs that they are jolted into realising what they could lose. Although the storyline seems contrived at times, it captures the emotional realities of modern Australian families and the complex relationships between mothers and children. While Blessed can be confronting and bleak, it does offer hope, showing that beauty exists amongst tragedy and people can rediscover love seemingly lost (MP).