Review: POPPY
by Karen Pecota

Linda Niccol, New Zealand 2022

Filmmaker Linda Niccol writes and directs her latest film POPPY, featured in the Slamdance Film Festival 2022 UNSTOPPABLE program. This program Slamdance now offers is one of my favorite platforms to screen due to the storyline and integrity for filmmaking. Niccol's main character named Poppy, has a disability, and refuses to let that stop her from accomplishing her dreams.

I was fascinated by the story that Niccol shared about how her film came to fruition and thought it worth sharing along with the synopsis of her storyline.

Niccol was asked how the film got made with a script that was 10 years in the making. She explains, "In the world, something like 4% of main acting roles/lead characters will go to those with disabilities." She adds, "At the moment, New Zealand is celebrating its 125th year of the right for women to vote. I believe it's the first country in the world to allow women to vote." In commemoration of this milestone event, Niccol continues, "The New Zealand film commission allowed support to filmmakers if a film they'd make was made with a female with disabilities in a major role: director, writer, producer, or actor female lead." Continuing, "We applied and received the support allowance and the recognition as we had Poppy, a Down syndrome actress, as a lead for our story."

The film team has gained wonderful accolades for POPPY and currently one can see actress Libby Hunsdale as a part of a TV series in New Zealand called Down for Love.

Synopsis:

A young lady named Poppy (Libby Hunsdale) wears mechanic overalls with her name embroidered above the uniform’s breast pocket because she works at her family's garage with big brother, Dave (Ari Boyland).

Since the passing of their father, Dave has taken on the role of sole protector of Poppy's world. Barely an adult himself, Dave is growing up fast trying to be one step ahead of his coming-of-age little sister, who regularly and with intensity vocalizes her own dreams. Poppy is studying to get her driver's license (against Dave's advice), looks forward to getting her own car (also against Dave's advice), and announces she has a love interest. LOL, poor Dave!

Dave is totally unprepared for all this female energy exploding at once while at the same time trying to rescue his own love life. Ah yes! Life’s circumstances do have their challenges for many families.

POPPY is a delightfully entertaining feature narrative with Poppy herself at the helm. It makes no difference that Poppy is a young woman with Down syndrome because their family matters prove to be typically engaging and frustrating; but in reality, more comedic than tragic because true love abounds.