Directed by : Alexander Payne
Produced by : Jim Taylor
Written by : Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Starring : Matt Damon, Hong Chau, Christoph Waltz, Rolf Lassgård
Music : Rolfe Kent
Year: 2017
A unique and interesting plot!
On a lazy evening 3 weeks into the lockdown, on wanting to watch something light, as I was browsing through Netflix, this movie came up and without even knowing anything about it, decided to watch it.
It took me 10 minutes to realize that I am watching Matt Damon and not Mark Wahlberg.
But what was more surprising as the movie progressed, was that I never expected it to have any link with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and yet there it was, clear as day, how human actions can bring about multiple environmental crisis, including wide-spread and deadly pandemic.
This movie had a unique take on the climate change crisis. The solution shown, though a yet unachievable feat, presents enough scientific logic and reasoning to back it up – downsizing of human being to a size of only 12.7 cm, to reduce impact of over-population on the environment by reducing waste and need for mass production, thus saving the planet from mass destruction.
The movie starts with this experiment going right. Usually it takes some time in this kind of movies to present such a premise but here they didn’t waste time. Reducing the size of everything and creating an alternate world, as I mentioned earlier, was indeed a very interesting plot for a movie. The best part about the movie is that it keeps you captivated throughout. Though you might not get super excited while sitting and watching from your couch, the storyline holds your attention through and through.
The storyline opens up so many possibilities. There is such an infinite scope of imagination and creativity with the screenplay that one will never be satisfied, with there being the possibility of so much else and so much more that could have been shown. So, rather than spiraling into this infinite loop of what could have been, it’s better to focus on what has been shown, which if you do will enable you to see that a lot has been tried to cover in the short timeframe of 2 hours 15 minutes.
The increasing pressure of population on the earth, the boredom in people’s lives, hollow relationships, repetitive routines, the brilliance of science and technology and then its limitations as well (mention of pain due to fibromyalgia by Matt Damon’s mother) at the very beginning, the movie showcases the great possibilities of human beings and the highest kind of stupidities possible. Here materialism is shown at its best but along with that, kindness and gratitude exhibited at its peak. The makers somehow have managed to keep a great blend of everything in the movie.
The movie makes you laugh, keeps you wondering and gives your mind wings as well. It brings out the greed, the fears, the jealousy, the hatred in your mind very effectively but also manages to beautifully touch the kindness, love, peace, joy in you for sure.
The imaginative sets of the movie deserve high marks but what will take your breath away are the visuals from Norway. You will fall in love with the place for sure. Nature surely draws you closer to yourself.
The consecutive scenes, wherein at first everyone is shown having a hippie sort of a party in bright daylight with lot of music and dance and then suddenly the scene that follows with a spellbinding sunset enveloped in deep prolonged silence and several peaceful faces just watching the sun set behind the picture perfect mountains, is simply beyond words. The happiness seeking loud minds finding Joy and peace in the silence within.
The actors have done a commendable job indeed. Matt Damon’s character does not have any sort of greatness to portray and this does not give him a huge scope to perform and yet he carries his role to perfection. But the star of the movie is Hong Chau without any doubt. You will want to hate her through each moment as she shows you that life can be so simple and direct. The simplicity, the ease, the directness of her character is simply brilliant and hence comforting as well as discomforting at the same time.
The end of the movie can be debated over. Many possible endings can be thought of but as I said it’s better to focus on what happened than what could have happened.
Image Courtesy : https://www.imdb.com/
You may find a lot of loopholes in the movie, like ones does in life or you can simply decide to wander in this wonderful yet thought provoking journey woven by the storyteller.
