The Future

johnny_ultimate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_l05MZ9y8A

On in the IFI at the moment, seems to be running through next week.

It's the new film from Miranda July, who previously directed the polarising Me You and Everyone We Know (I really liked it). The Future, similarly, is the kind of film that has already attracted many admirers and an equal amount of impassioned hatred.

Personally, I'm somewhere in between, but I think it's worth seeing. Quirky isn't even the word here - this is a brand new level of eccentric. From a talking moon to (utterly bizarrely, and not entirely effectively) a squeaky voiced cat narrating events at various narrative junctures, this is a very odd film indeed.

But there are lots of good ideas. Basically telling the story of a couple who decide to experience their life to the fullest in the 30 days before they 'adopt' the cat in question. There's some very well-observed scenes on modern disconnection and apathy in the first half. Characters then kind of shoot off in unexpected directions, and the film becomes far more structurally and thematically peculiar. Yet IMO there was an affecting story running underneath, and there are some haunting sequences and themes dotted throughout.

This got a one star review in The Ticket last week, so it clearly isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea - it is the most idiosyncratic release I've seen recently, without a doubt (Kill List comes close). But July (who also stars, alongside Hamish Linklater) is a fascinating character, and while she probably overindulges in her performance art background at times, this is certainly worth a gander out of sheer curiosity alone. Love it or hate it, it definitely is unique.

Mickeroo

I really liked Me You and Everyone we Know so will definitely be giving this a look. It does look pretty odd though.

Mickeroo

Just a heads up, not watched it yet but just noticed this is on US Netflix now!