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BALZEMINA BLAH AND HER BRAND NEW SHADES

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I have to admit that I had to read this twice to grasp exactly what the writer is attempting to accomplish but once I did, it all makes sense. The writer is trying to show that in a sense, things aren't always greener on the other side of the fence. A young girl is unhappy because her parents are expecting a new baby and then when they new baby arrives, she feels even gloomier and sad. She wears her dark shades. Then, she escapes to a happy land where everything is bright and happy but it is too bright and happy and she must wear her rose colored glasses. Is Balzemina (the young girl) happier there and is it all what it is cracked up to be?

The theme is quite clever and creative. I don't think I have ever seen this message portrayed this way. The dark shades representing the unhappiness and gloom and the rose colored glasses and the glasses at the end with no glass in them at all are really quite an original concept. It's an interesting way to also get the message across that things aren't better on the other side of the fence or as in this film, across the colorful and bright border.

The writer has cleverly and creatively taken the subject of how a young child may feel right before (and when) a new baby arrives. In the beginning, I wondered why this young girl is so unhappy and why everything is gray. Then, in the middle, it all starts to come together when she goes to the land of Rosenia. She meets another young girl, Flo who also experiences jealousy of Balzemia because the Rosenians all seem entranced by Balzemia. It is too bright and happy to the point where it seems forced and unnatural. She wears the rose colored glasses but it still really isn't as it appears to be. The end has closure because the young Balzemia returns home and no longer wears dark or rose colored glasses. She has glasses with only the frames and sees how things really are. At first, the character of the Glassmaker is a little confusing and may not be easy to see what he represents. But, basically he just represents the different glasses since he gives Balzemia the shades.

Fantasy circus with minimal dialog. Jealous of a new baby sibling, little Balzemina Blah runs away from the depressing land of Blahzenia to find a place of happiness.