Wildflower (2022) review

While in the hospital due to a traumatic brain injury, Bea (Kiernan Shipka) talks about growing up with her intellectually disabled parents Derek (Dash Mihok) and Sharon (Samantha Hyde), staying with her Aunt Joy (Alexandra Daddario) and dating cancer survivor Ethan (Charlie Plummer).  It essentially replicates the plot of 2021's CODA - and is also "inspired by true events" - but it's more focused on "teen girl problems" (first love, getting bullied by her rich peers, leaving home to go to college) than the plight of Derek and Sharon: after all, having a mother and father who can't hear (but can still think clearly) is a lot different than having ones who struggle to process information.  What I find interesting is how Bea has to juggle being a student (she's bright) and a caretaker (the lack of a proper support system is alarming) ... and how she uses her slot machine-loving Mom to buy her alcohol, which seems cruel but is something many individuals her age would abuse if they could get away with it.