Invisible Child (Tushka Bergen)

(Amazon UK link)

A few months ago I bought four DVDs from a local charity shop, and we finally watched the last of them, a film made in 1999 called ‘Invisible Child’. The title sounds as if it might be science fiction, or perhaps a political drama. But it’s neither. It’s a family-based story that’s based on a very unusual premise…

Gillian (Tushka Bergen) is newly arrived in the United States, with no job, and nowhere to stay. She happens to spot an advert in a shop window for a nanny, and decides to call at the house in the hope of an interview. She meets the father Tim Beeman (Victor Garber) who introduces her to his ten-year-old daughter Rebecca, known for some reason as ‘Doc’ (brilliantly portrayed  by a young Mae Whitman). Gillian also meets his four-year-old son Sam (David Dorfman).

There’s not much of an interview, but Tim lets her know that an important part of her job would be helping to maintain a rather bizarre fantasy. His wife Annie (Rita Wilson) believes she has another child, Maggie, who is a year older than Sam.. and who is invisible to everyone else. Sam apparently believes he has an invisible sister and claims he can hear her speaking. But Doc, along with her father, play along knowing that Maggie isn’t real. 

Gillian takes the job and quickly learns to join in the pretence: she pushes ‘Maggie’ on a swing, talks to her in the bath, tucks her in at night… and she also endears herself to both Doc and Sam. But now that ‘Maggie’ is five, and supposedly attending Kindergarten, it’s harder for the pretence to continue and there are some awkward moments. Gillian feels more and more uncomfortable and decides to consult some professionals, which creates a huge crisis…

Outside of science fiction it’s one of the strangest premises for a film that I can recall. Annie is a loving wife and mother, she’s friendly and encouraging - but she lives in this fantasy world. And it raises all kinds of questions: is this a mental illness, or the result of stress? Is she a danger to anyone? Is Doc in danger, colluding with her father to maintain the pretence?  Is Sam in danger, growing up in the belief that Maggie is real…? And is it really helpful for Annie to have everyone else protecting her, going along with her fantasy?

There’s a wonderful pivotal scene about three-quarters of the way through, when Doc is being interviewed by three social workers. She comes across as friendly, intelligent, and open - posing her own questions about whether an invisible, imaginary ‘friend’ is really any different from belief in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. The script is very cleverly written, and the actors play their roles so well that we were completely drawn into the story, almost as part of the family.

It’s inevitably a bit dated, having been made nearly quarter of a century ago, and the quality of our DVD wasn’t the greatest. It claims to have ‘bonus material’ but it’s just text about the actors and something about the film - no interviews or ‘making of’ documentary or outtakes. It would have been interesting to know if the story was based on a real situation or person, and how the actors felt about the story.

I don’t think I’d class it as one of my favourite films, but it was well worth seeing, and very thought-provoking, making us consider in a new way where the boundary is between living in a fantasy world and mental illness.  It's light-hearted in places, but also warm and surprisingly moving. 

The rating is PG which I think is about right; there’s nothing a child shouldn’t see and not much that they shouldn’t hear, but the storyline and its eventual outcome could be disturbing for a young or sensitive child.  

Review copyright 2023 Sue's DVD Reviews