Away

 

Rarely has a film intentionally silent film been ab keto capture the imagination without uttering a single word like Away does. There are animated films such as WALL-E where half the film is without a large amount of dialogue but incorporates different sounds and eventually robotic voices and noises before introducing characters that talk. Away shows us a world that looks like something we’ve seen somewhere and lands us immediately into a story that could be interpreted in a myriad of ways, which is, apart from the beautiful simplistic style of animation, is its key charm.

 

A young boy finds himself in a strange island after waking up suspended in a parachute. After narrowly escaping a strange entity, the boy ends up on a journey across the island. Along with a little bird as his companion, meeting other animals and encountering beautiful landscapes, they try to reach civilisation and out run the ominous entity that pursues them.

Director Gints Zilbalodis creatively constructs a world, its rules and brings us along for the ride through the boy in the story. By choosing no dialogue, there is no point of the film where you feel as if you’ve been removed from the world created. There are moments of pure bliss and freedom followed by those of ever closing despair that are all portrayed by creatures that show little emotion yet these immense feelings are manifested. At first glance is seems as if the film is not yet completed but the simplistic style of the animation strips back what is needed to enjoy the story being told. The scenes details, the landscapes are beautiful, in particular the mirror lakes. As the film doesn’t try to manipulate the audience into thinking how and why the boy ended up on the island, one interpretation is that it feels like a video game. As the boy collects items along the way, following a road that is mapped out with giant rings that signify a change in terrain, he also encounters different creatures, all the while checking where he is going according the postcard map, he finds with the backpack and motorbike he finds at the start of his journey. It’s as if he must complete levels at each chapter of the story.

 

It is indeed a beautifully formed film that feel unconventional and a style that needs to be used more in feature films. A journey story that is unlike any other, whether it is real, a dream or a game that one has to play, Away is the ultimate escapism that we all need right now.

 

 

Now available on Curzon Home Cinema and available to buy on all digital platforms

Alien Addiction

 

New Zealand has produced some of the most bizarre and genre bending comedies of the last decade, some even breaking the barrier and earning an international appreciation, but it’s the indie films that really should have their time in the limelight because that is where the weirdest stories are just waiting to be discovered, none more so than Alien Addiction.

 

In a small town in the middle of nowhere, life for Riko and his friends isn’t very exciting. With drugs and boardgames to while away the time with the occasional car chase race to see who can get to the bar first, no one was expecting exterrestrial visitors to land in the woods. They also probably didn’t expect these aliens to smoke and get high off human faeces and then becomes addicted to it. When Riko stumbles upon the aliens, he finds kindred spirits and welcomes them with open arms, taking them to explore life on Earth, or at least his lifestyle on Earth. But while this intergalactic friendship blossoms they are being pursued by a self named alientologist who is determined to capture the aliens to prove once and for all they do exist.

 

 

The distinct New Zealand humour plays a major part in this indie science fiction comedy, with its matter of fact dialogue and acceptance of events by most if not all characters. The belief that something this crazy could happen is just another wacky adventure to get involved with by all, even the very questionable behaviour and actions towards Jacinta, one of the only female characters. But ultimately, this ensemble cast, including visiting aliens Jeff and Gurgus, make up a weird and wonderful group of characters that you could only find in this story.

 

Mixing comedy and science fiction is usually taken with a pinch of salt, especially with the low budget style and erratic plotline. But the fact that the tech, make up and props all look like something out of the 80s just adds to the charm of the entire film. With some very funny moments to balance out the rather disgusting ones (if you’re not fan of literal toilet humour be warned) it’s an absolute delight of a film.

 

Check out the trailer HERE.