The Line

There's so much more psychological depth to this movie than first meets the eye.

This deeply troubled, oddball family cares deeply for each other. However, the mother resents her oldest daughter Margaret for cutting her musical carreer short. Even though she should be a role model, she's infantile in pursuing her own impulses and neglects her children's needs.

The director purposely doesn't explain the motivation for the violent opening scene; it's what isn't said that becomes the narrative.

The daughters protect each other and their mother. Whether it's with a blue line painted on the ground or by emotionally bonding with daily musical lessons. This represents parentification: the tasks children take on when the mother (or father) is emotionally unavailable.

In the closing scene there's ambiguity in the mother's eyes whilst she passes Margaret who pitifully yearns for her love. But she can't step over the line, whether it's drawn in blue paint or invisible. Even before the physical attack she was already tone-deaf to her children's needs.