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Retro SciFi of the Week…
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Not so retro, but it’s one of the best science fiction films ever made and aside from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, perhaps the very best. It includes an ensemble cast of some of the most accomplished actors in the world.
The breadth and depth of this film is enormous and the quality is completely uncompromising. It uses a nonlinear narrative (lots of flashbacks and flashforwards) with an intricate plot and the actors play multiple roles, so it may be confusing on first viewing. This film demands a lot work from the viewer – it will probably take you at least three viewings to begin to understand it. If that’s not your thing, then I’d recommend you go watch ‘Sharknado (2013)’ instead.
The primary philosophical conclusion reached by the film is absolute bunk, but that doesn’t detract from its story and entertainment value. (And the presentation of its thesis up to that point is sound.)
Spoiler: revelation about this clip...
**** SPOILER *****
I just watched a youtube video review of this film and the reviewer also noticed that the Sonmi character was speaking about the film itself, except they saw it in another scene. When the interrogator asks, “And what if no one believes this ‘truth’.”
Sonmi replies, “Someone already does.”
In the narrative, she is referring to the interrogator believing her truth. But the youtube reviewer saw this as also referring to the audience believing what the film is offering, with the Sonmi character again speaking for the film.
Now I wonder if there are more instances of that character being a metaphor for the film. Obviously the presentation of her philosophy is the overarching message of the film, so it makes sense. I guess I’ll have to watch it again…