Christopher Butler (director)
Big Eye (studio)
18 (certificate)
102 minutes (length)
26 April 2015 (released)
24 April 2015
What happens when you are unable to control your destiny because of past life events? Reincarnation has caused Basia to remember things. At first they are flashes of faces and events but soon they take over her life. She goes back to a vast range of times and spaces such as the middle ages, shogun Japan, 17th century France and even India. As we visit each, it becomes clear a cycle of horrible death and violence has been left.
I came to this film with very little expectation of what was on offer. The director was unknown, as were the actors and the production team. The only thing that drew me in was the story and its main idea. It is this central idea that I really found to be actually awesome. It throws up such a mixture of very compelling and complex ideas that it almost seems it will break under the weight of these. It does fall at points in its direction of it lead, choice of editing and its choice of sound design that is jarring. Now you see it does fall a little short in respect of its actual execution but what I want to focus on is the good here.
The acting is often middle of the road but heightened when in the past. This is a consistent theme of the piece as when we move outside of the current time and space, we suddenly have the feeling that the film has stepped up and come to the party. This is also true of the excellent dream and meditation pieces that are well scored and crafted like that of a piece as complex as Christopher Nolan. The past time and horror sequences are excellent, well directed with a sharp eye on pace and vigor. They pull you in and then hold you. A skill in itself and one that Christopher Butler should develop far more. The set designs are superb as well, on such a limited budget they imbibe a place and a time. Also these scenes are well edited, framed and shot and it is this that stings you. Also because of this you will see how skillful new directors are finding a voice and technical people are supporting this growth. My only other point is that this film owes a debt to SOURCE CODE by Duncan James. A film about place and space that suffered almost the same from the place / space issue but it was good and so is this as well.
Grabbing attention is hard in the modern media landscape and I was pulled in and so you will be in to the piece.