by Frank Calvillo
Synopsis
Seven scientists, a dog and a super-intelligent monkey awake from cryogenic slumber to discover, to their stupefaction, that they are prisoners on a spaceship. It seems to be programmed with a specific destination in mind, somewhere in the vast reaches of the universe. None of them has a clue what that destination might be. Worse yet, they’ve no idea why they’re on the mysterious vessel because none can remember anything before they woke up. In the face of this collective amnesia, they realize that they need to combine their brains and brawn if they’re to figure out their predicament. Nothing that woman and men of their brilliance can’t make happen, except for all unexpected occurrences. The galactic castaways will soon discover that they aren’t the only ones on board…
Cosmodrama screens at Fantasia Fest August 3rd & 4th.
One of the more “mixed bag” selections to come out of Fantasia Fest this year without a doubt has been French filmmaker Philippe Fernandez’ dark philosophical space comedy Cosmodrama.
Starring acclaimed French actors Emmanual Moynot and Bernard Blancan, the film opens on a group of people who awaken from a cryogenic sleep only to find themselves trapped on a spaceship with no clue of how they’ve gotten there. Since each one is trained in fields such as psychology and medicine, they must use their tools and resources to uncover the purpose and meaning behind the universe.
When I say the film is a mixed bag, its because Cosmodrama is just that. Its got an interesting premise that eventually becomes somewhat hampered by its dialogue, which is chock full of jargon regarding anything and everything dealing with time and space.
It isn’t that the ideas presented are ludicrous, or even boring, but rather that they are so scientific that they alienate practically every audience member NOT an expert in that field. While I can certainly appreciate the fact that its hard to dress up or dumb down a great many terms when dealing with the subject of space, it becomes impossible to escape the feeling that the actors are, in a way, reading from a textbook instead of a film script.
It doesn’t help matters much that Cosmodrama is broken up into 14 chapters, each dealing with another character’s discovery of something space-like. While this setup does help the story progress somewhat, it also reminds me of a college syllabus, with each chapter representing a different lesson to be taught and almost instantly forgotten.
As lackluster as the dialogue is however, the plot of Cosmodrama is nothing short of intriguing and only becomes more involving as the film progresses.
The idea of a group of strangers, experts in their respective fields, assembled together to pinpoint the mysteries of the universe is something right out of Rod Serling’s world. I loved watching these interesting characters interact with each other and see how they reacted to their surroundings and the changes that happened within them. In fact, some of the most interesting scenes of Cosmodrama feature no dialogue, but rather characters being wacky and unpredictable.
Fernandez’ movement of the plot (which also manages to include animals, doppelgangers, and fantasy women) is so perfectly subtle, that it allows the audience and the film to enjoy the surrealness of the story.
Another big plus for Cosmodrama is its look and feel. Set in the era of Kubrick’s 2001, the film’s late 60s/early 70s appearance is visually stunning and the use of period music and vintage costumes only enhance the movie’s otherworldly qualities.
I remember when I was in college having to take an astronomy class simply because my degree plan required a lab science. I chose astronomy because I figured: How hard is it to look at the stars and talk about them? Well, after seeing this film, I’ve discovered it’s not TOO hard. Though watching a movie about it definitely is.
However, those who can look past the highly dense, nap-inspiring dialogue will be treated to one of the most intriguing space tales of recent years.
