 |
| Images courtesy Buffalo 8 |
Loss is an integral part of the human condition. Wanting to love and be loved, to be included, a and to be part of something is hardwired into the human soul, passed along the universal subconscious across generations. Carlos Amaral's emotional debut feature, Infinite Sea, is a unique sojourn into the depths of loneliness distilled through an intriguing science fiction premise that focuses on the concept of love and acceptance by way of ostracization and the result is a thoughtfully moody neo-existential love story. Featuring a wonderfully subdued pair of lead performances, erudite visuals, and a low-fi 70's ambiance, this is one of the most unique films of the year released thus far.
Miguel is one of those who have been left behind, denied passage on a starship that is shuttling the last vestiges of humanity to a new planet. Endlessly trying to hack his way onto the ship, he begins to dream, possibly hallucinating in his sadness, meeting (or conjuring) Eva, a mysterious woman who ultimately may be his salvation of damnation. Amaral’s script is textbook contemplative science fiction. Comparisons to Stalker are inevitable due to the broken down feel of the world, but Upstream Color may be a closer cousin, sharing its esoteric and mysterious DNA with Amaral’s world in spirit and presentation.
 |
At the center is Nuno Nolasco's Miguel and Maria Leite's Eva. Their chemistry feels both organic and preternatural, as the two principles blend into one another's psyche's, both teaching and learning from each other in kind, ultimately leading to fascinating developments and a poignant denouement that will haunt the viewer's mind's eye long after the credits roll. This is supported by the bifurcation of the two worlds of Infinite Sea. For the Leftovers the world is broken and used up, almost reminiscent of WALL-E, and for the Pilgrims leaving, the world is vibrant and full of possibilities.
Ultimately this is a thoughtful, glacially paced story that will either attract with its dreamlike qualities or repulse with its lack of focus. Slow, endearing stories about love and acceptance are an essential part of the cinematic experience and Amaral's first full-length feature is a triumph because it focuses on the human elements at play and eschews any grandstanding or panache in favor of the quiet moments in between. Coming soon to digital on demand, Infinite Sea is an excellent sci-fi love story with a lot heart and a lot on its mind.
-Kyle Jonathan