“Wildflower” is a true story about a young woman looking to find her way in the world. Her biggest obstacle is that she’s the daughter of challenged parents Peg and Earl. Sharon, her mother, was born intellectually challenged but has an exuberant personality. Derek's father's brain stopped developing due to a brain injury he incurred at the age of 13. Add in the mix their parents  who seriously become concerned when they begin dating. Things become interesting when Peg and Earl marry and soon become parents. They name their child Bambi after Sharon’s favorite Disney film. Bambi changes it to Bea as soon as she is able to assert some independence. 

Peg and Earl, in an effort to prove that their limitations won’t keep them from having a normal life, decide to move to Las Vegas. Naturally things aren’t easy for them but they push forward. What they lack in financial stability they make up for in love. 

When we first meet Bea she’s in a coma after an accident. She’s surrounded by family that can’t help but blame Peg and Earl and each other for the misfortune.

We get to know her via her reflective voice. She shares with us her childhood, thoughts of having parents that are disabled and just dreams of living as a regular teenager. 

Brea is a young woman forced to take on responsibilities that most her age don’t due to her parents status. She’s become the responsible party by default. She pays the bills, cleans the house and keeps them on track.  It’s an incredible insight to a life we don’t often see on the screen.

Her mishap could be the reason she is forced to live an adult life devoid of the joys and freedoms of youth. Brea's family, which includes her aunt and grandparents, want her to leave the house. She even visits her aunt and uncle to get a taste of normalcy. Soon after, she returns, feeling guilty for abandoning them.

What makes this film interesting is the cast. The always brilliant Jean Smart portrays Peg the mother of Sharon. She’s scared for her daughter and tries everything in her power to keep her from moving away. Jackie Weaver is also brilliant as Earl’s chain smoking mom Loretta. She has never fully dealt with her son’s disability.

The gem of the film is Samantha Hyde as Sharon. This is her film debut and she does a great job of showing the audience what life is like for a disabled mom. She loves her daughter and husband but due to her limitations doesn’t fully understand her role as a parent. Dash Mihok, who plays Derek, does an excellent job of emphasizing that, despite their restrictions, their family is not less valuable. He is aware of their difficulties, but refuses to be boxed in. 

All of the above wouldn’t work if it wasn’t for Kiernan Shipka as Brea.

It’s through her portrayal that we feel the frustrations of a child that has disabled parents. She so desperately yearns for some sense of normalcy. A life beyond the squares of her Las Vegas home.

She feels stuck at such a young age while simultaneously loving her parents. Her emotional journey makes you ask the question how do we as society do a better job of helping kids like her be kids.

Wildflower does have some issues in that audiences don't get to see how Brea was able to fly under the radar without educators becoming aware of her living situations and how parents who don't completely embrace their children's limits might cause more harm. There was a chance to show people a different side of family life without making the parents appear irresponsible.

In the end it's the performances that push this one into the win column and make you ask how you can be an ally instead of sitting in judgment.

Wildflower became available  On Demand and Digital beginning March 21.