SXSW 2021: INTRODUCING, SELMA BLAIR: Profoundly Moving in its Bravery

A part of me still cannot believe this documentary was put together. Maybe it’s because we have seen so many films about characters and their loved ones dealing with an illness, so it’s hard to watch one that is completely real. Maybe it’s because most people would not want the world to see them at their lowest points. Introducing, Selma Blair not only shows us the unfiltered reality of dealing with a disease like MS (multiple sclerosis), but it constantly reminds us of Selma Blair’s own willingness to let us see everything.

Fighting Through Daily Tasks with Humor

The greatest strength behind the design of Introducing, Selma Blair is it is a portrait film. We are always next to Blair, during her highs and lows. With MS being an incurable disease that attacks the immune system, Blair struggles every day to talk and move. We watch her painfully attempt to complete small tasks like walking up the stairs and taking out the trash. Every single time, without fail, I am aware of the person behind the camera, and I catch myself yelling at the screen for someone to help her. But then Blair will insist to do everything alone because that’s how her life every day is like. Despite having a large filmmaking crew in her house, she continues on like they are never there. It’s a brave decision to let us see everything, which makes both an intimate and invasive experience, where I become too self-conscious as a viewer.

Throughout the film, Blair talks to the camera and to her phone like it’s a video diary, and it is here where we realize just how much she combats her day-to-day challenges with sharp humor. She’s honest and straight to the point about her thoughts, making blunt comments to get a laugh, ranging from using tiny model hands to make her body look bigger to using a vibrator as a neck massage device. Her personality and ability to cope with her illness makes her both charming and unbelievably brave. That’s the good, but Introducing, Selma Blair also insists on letting us see the bad.

Blair as an Actress, a Daughter, and Mother

Another opportunity where we get to learn more about Blair is in her self-reflection as an actress and daughter, which affects how she is committed to taking care of her son Arthur Bleick and how everything is further complicated by her condition.

We learn about her awareness of always being the supporting actress and never the lead in Hollywood films. We learn about some things her mother has told her since childhood. Many of these factors lead to Blair feeling like she’s never good enough or deemed less than others. This is a potential contributor to how she sees her role as a mother.

A significant portion of Introducing, Selma Blair is Blair worrying about how her condition affects her time with her son. We see her push her body to the limit just to play dodgeball with Arthur, right before his father (Jason Bleick) will come to pick him up. During this entire time, she puts on a happy, confident face – always eager to remain an inspiring parental figure. But every time, when Arthur leaves and the doors close, she will fall apart again. It’s as if every time they say goodbye, she imagines that it’s the last one.

Introducing, Selma Blair: As Devastating Yet Inspiring as You Can Imagine

With the second half of the documentary focusing more on Blair receiving stem cell treatment, it is clear that this documentary demonstrates a remarkable amount of trust between Blair and director Rachel Fleit.

With a narrative full of precious highs and vulnerable lows, Introducing, Selma Blair is a raw and honest account of one celebrity’s journey dealing with MS, in the hopes that other people suffering out there can see her experiences and feel less alone. It achieves exactly what its title promises; by the time you finish the film, you will feel like you truly know Selma Blair, as if she is your neighbor.

Did you see Introducing, Selma Blair? What did you think of the film? Share below!

Introducing, Selma Blair premiered at SXSW 2021 on March 16^th, 2021.