2073 - Movie Review

In ‘2073,’ the colony plays out the living daylights of a global society nearing its tipping point. It is loosely based on Chris Marker’s La Jetée and the plot immediately captures the audience’s attention as it shows the life of a time traveler who tries to influence the history and save the world. Not only the plot is structurally well-executed but also forces the audience to think critically about the consequences of manipulating fate.

The audience follows the film with the focus on sacrifice and the struggle of humanity to survive in a world where everyone is dying. Pulling at heart strings, it presents hope against despair, and the moral complexities of time travel. The mood changes from dramatic to suspenseful constantly throughout the show.

Samantha Morton and Naomi Ackie are headlining a solid cast that does an excellent job. Morton, whose specialty is rich inner life portrayal, does it with great success. Introducing fun spirited sexy dynamism, Ackie manages to keep chemistry with her leading man whom they began developing a realistic love story. Hector Hewer does not have a major role, but his brief but powerful performance is strong.

Director Asif Kapadia, known for narrative material whose films are ‘Senna,’ and ‘The Liberator’ brings similar approach to ‘2073.’ He paints a very interesting picture with his words, weaving the real and hypothetical. His direction establisheed the suspense of the thriller, but gives viewers also the time to think like in the documentary, […] His acting is pretty good, and perfectly in sync with the rising action of the thriller while the soundtrack with its notes of hope mingled with sadness enhances the film’s atmosphere. It smoothly fluctuates between dramatic and contemplative, stressing the rather both bright and intense and ambiguous and thoughtful scenes and the film’s multilayered plot.

The cinematographic vision of ‘2073’ is a kaleidoscope of warm and stormy emotions. In the movie, the appearance of the settings shows the grim but also appealing future using contrast and various viewpoints. Editor creates striking visuals that continue to haunt the audience even when the movie ends.

Set decoration beautifully underlines a well-designed world on the verge of collapse yet filled with optimism. Symbols in settings’ concepts are done outrageously, making viewers immerse in the future context effortlessly, even without extensive set designs, while intensifying the themes of the story.

Edits apply tones of realism with special effects for time-traveling aspects almost unobtrusive with minimal flair but real. Subtitles serve as elements that provide strength to the story while not overpowering it; they also give a realistic slant to the science-fiction aspect of the plot.

The film is very well-structured and has parallel time lines and sub-plots well integrated. The editing style keeps suspense at the same time it presents everybody with clarity while the maturation of the film keeps its audience engaged in the complicated sequences and storyline. This may appear slow to some readers, but it turns out to enhance tension and the creation of strong emotions step by step.

It is full of profound interlocutions that, on the one hand, contribute to the characterization process, flipping through philosophical questions and answers. The writing is good, intellectual and sometimes even sublime, complementing well the contemplative nature of the film.

Overall ‘2073’ is a strong narrative however, the slow motion storytelling might not appeal to those expecting an action packed movie. The story requires focus and can be boring at some times, because of the pace it has. But I must admit that those willing to delve deeper into it are rewarded with a quite profound story.

‘2073’ is an exquisite blend of Science fiction and drama that leaves the reader with a certain amount of food for thought. It is a beautiful picture, blessed with great thematic potential that gives viewers pause to wonder about their effect on society. The moral questions of the human nature and the appropriateness of time travelling raised up to the end of the film make ‘2073’ an engrossing, significant cinematic experience.