"We flew today." - Felix
Three people dream of escaping a harsh wasteland.
Starring: Michael Lake, Melissa Davis, Norman Boyd
Link to IMDB
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| Smith |
One day, a mysterious man stumbles across their land, and Felix takes him in to give him food and water. His name is Smith and he's desperately trying to get north, but Felix warns him that the mountains there are impassable.
Since Felix is bound to a wheelchair, he is attempting to build a Da Vinci styled flying machine in hopes of soaring over those mountains, and he convinces Smith to stay and help him build the machine.
Betty, who seems to be quite deranged, fears that Smith is a demon who has come to steal Felix away from her, and she desperately tries to convince her brother to end his foolish ideas of flight.
The plot is small, like a three-person play, but the movie remains ambitious...
Despite the bleak, harsh and ethereal setting, the characters (especially Felix and Betty) liven it up with their quirky personalities. At first they seem too eccentric and it's a bit jarring, but once the more Lynchian tone of the movie gets established and you settle into the story, the silliness fades into the background. Things remain bizarre, but I was glad this wasn't just trying to be nutty.
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| Betty Felix |
As they work together, Smith and Felix bond over their desire to escape to the north, but their progress is slow with many failed prototypes crashing to the ground. Betty, usually enraged and delusional that the "demonic" Smith is ruining their peace, constantly tries to impede them.
The day comes when the handmade flying machine is completed, and the dream of flight will be tested against the heavy and uncaring sky.
"North." - Smith
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| The beautiful and bizarre wasteland |
What really makes this movie enjoyable is the haunting and surreal depiction of a post-apocalyptic world we learn nothing about. We are nowhere and no-when; lost in a tenuous myth where normalcy can barely survive. The main theme seems to focus on how hope can keep someone alive, but also that it's as fragile as a paper wing.
The excellent ambient score creates an atmosphere of the underlying sadness that permeates everything here. The visuals are often stunning; showcasing the beautiful and twisted sensibilities of this weird, dying world. This was the first film of Alex Proyas, who is known for his unique visual style.
It is deliberately slow and without much narrative, and will leave you wondering if you feverishly dreamed the whole thing. I recommend it to anyone interested in art-house film, and this is one of the few from Australia.
Be sure not to miss:
- Beans.
- I love that Felix's wheelchair is excessively squeaky.
- It's implied that someone is pursuing Smith across the desert, which gives the ending another theme to think about.
Internet review:
"I think this early [Alex Proyas] piece is the one that touches my heart the most." - drella3
Should I watch it?
Yes!
Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.
Spirits of the Air gets...
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