What would you expect from a space opera directed by Claire Denis and starring Robert Pattinson? Well, everything. High Life does to sci-fi what Denis’ Trouble Every Day did to vampire films: it’s a radical interpretation where the filmmaker subverts tropes and genre
while preserving their very essence.
Pattinson is part of a motley crew of convicts sent in a spaceship to seemingly exploit an energy resource
from a black hole. But they are the ones exploited as guinea pigs for
sexual experiments by their medical officer (Juliette Binoche, in full
witch mode). Denis still explores her favourite themes – bodies and
outsiders, which are desired and rejected at the same time. Mind-bending
and very organic, High Life is a crossover between Solaris and Alien, but without needing any monster. It’s above all a fascinating work on on
how to keep one’s humanity in the space void.
Also see Masterclass Claire Denis.
Trailer
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Film details
- Countries of production
- France, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, USA
- Year
- 2018
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2019
- Length
- 110'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
