Blackbird (ATOM Study Guide)

Blackbird is a Canadian drama directed by Jason Buxton. Blackbird is suitable for secondary students in Years 11 and 12. The film is a suitable text for study in VCE English, Sociology, Media Studies and VCAL: Literacy.

'I was angry, I wrote things down. Stupid, not dangerous. '

With his dyed black hair, piercing and studded leather jacket, sixteen-year-old Sean Randall (Connor Jessup) is a mystery to both his father Ricky (Michael Buie) and his high-school peers. Bullied by the town's hockey jocks – especially the captain of the team, Cory (Craig Arnold) – tensions flare when 'puck bunny' Deanna Roy (Alexia Fast) befriends Sean. She admires Sean's rebellious expression of his identity but Cory, Deanna's boyfriend, is threatened by the friendship and becomes violent. Seeking to protect himself, Sean posts a revenge-fuelled tirade against bullies online. From that moment on, everything changes. Sean's comments provoke the darkest fears of the community and, despite his attempts to explain, he is charged with planning a mass shooting. Denied bail, Sean is sent to Waterville, and the authorities and the media report that another school shooting has been averted.

Waterville is one of the toughest youth prisons in the country. Sean is nicknamed 'Columbine' by the other boys and the bullying begins again. Concerned for his son's wellbeing, Ricky mortgages his house to pay for legal representation and get Sean back home. Unable to wait out the bureaucratic delays and desperate to avoid the abuse of fellow inmate Trevor (Alex Ozerov), Sean takes his lawyer's advice and pleads guilty. Released on time served, Sean is free to go home, but there are conditions. He cannot attend school and must not contact those people named on the restraining order, including Deanna.

Sean returns to Eastport determined to fit in. Ricky does all he can to support Sean. He gets Sean a job at the ice rink, buys him a car and is less judgmental. The community is unprepared to move on. Sean faces constant scrutiny and further persecution. When Sean sees Deanna at the mall, he cannot ignore his feelings for her and makes contact. He apologises for frightening her and Deanna admits to feeling guilty about not speaking up during the hearing. Their friendship begins again.

When Deanna's father discovers the teenagers' relationship, he calls the police and Sean must return to Waterville given he has breached the conditions of his probation. Unprepared to plead guilty a second time, Sean finds the courage to tell the truth and prove his innocence. He confronts Trevor and his gang, challenges the prejudice of his community and refuses to accept the injustice of the court. Sean speaks up for who he really is, having learnt that his redemption is not a matter of fitting in but rather of standing out.