In Blowing Up, writer-director A.J. Fitzgerald drops us into a day in the life of a couple struggling with the fallout of grief. Scott (Don-Dimitri Joseph) starts the day trying to care for his grieving girlfriend, who lost her father almost a year ago. He talks to her gently, checks in on her feelings, and reminds her that it’s her birthday. But Janine — revealed to be a blow-up doll — is unresponsive, leaving Scott to feel alone. After reaching his breaking point, he heads out to work, hoping the day will get easier. It has to, right?
Janine begins moving through the motions of a normal morning. She showers, dresses, and prepares breakfast before heading into the office. At work, her coworkers tread carefully around her, unsure of what to say. Her boss (Tenaya Cleveland) reminds her that her repeated tardiness and time away have put her job at risk. That night, Scott meets up with Janine’s best friend, Miranda (Danielle Rodd), to celebrate the birthday over dinner. When Scott and Miranda attempt to cheer her up, they reach their wits’ end and confront blow-up doll Janine with their secret relationship.
“Scott starts the day trying to care for his grieving girlfriend…”
Blowing Up is one of those truly insightful comedic films that makes one wonder why I didn’t make this connection. Losing someone you love can be devastating, and it’s never easy to cope with the loss, let alone know how, when, or if to move on. As a friend and loved one, I know firsthand about not knowing what to say or do for my friends and family members when it comes to loss. You want to show you care without suffocating your friend, being condescending, or coming across as fake. But then there does come a point to move on, and presenting Janine as a blow-up doll was brilliant. Filmmaker A.J. Fitzgerald places us right in the shoes of Janine’s friends, and we feel their compassion and determination to help. Even now, I’m trying to be super-sensitive to anyone who has experienced loss.
By the end, Blowing Up circles back to the uncomfortable truth that loving someone through their grief can fracture everyone involved if the weight never lifts. This satirical tale leaves us sitting with that tension, reminding us how hard it is to know when support becomes surrender.
For screening information, visit the Blowing Up Instagram page.
"…remind[s] us how hard it is to know when support becomes surrender."
