A big thank you to Landmark Theaters for giving SIFF the possibility to show films on their screens.
Monday, May 23rd. Day 5 of SIFF. The second screening of Miranda July's THE FUTURE was up at SIFF Cinema. As we spent the weekend at the office, we were really looking forward to this film. THE FUTURE is Miranda July's second feature - her first film ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW, directed in 2005, won the Camera d'Or at Cannes Film Festival, and was also showing at SIFF - and it was in competition at Sundance earlier this year.
The room was pretty packed, and everyone seemed pretty excited. Once again, the great trailer/ bumper of SIFF was shown, with WE ARE THE NIGHT's trailer - a female vampires film that looks really intense. Miranda July said a few words, and then, the film begun...
What is THE FUTURE about? It is hard to say precisely, as it isn't a common and simple film. It starts with Papa's voice over - Papa is a cat in a shelter waiting to be adopted by Sophie and Jason, and his voice is actually Miranda July's. Then come Sophie and Jason, seated in a sofa - that's the picture above - talking about their laziness while Sophie is watching a YouTube video of a young woman filming herself dancing hip-hop in her living-room. Sophie is a dance teacher for kids - she is not very good at it though, but she tries hard. The couple have taken an important decision : they're going to adopt a sick cat that has 6 months to live. However, when they learn that the animal could live up to 5 years if they take good care of him, they panic. They have one month before taking the cat home. One month of total freedom. Jason quits his job to become a solicitor for an environmental company, and Sophie gives herself 30 days to film herself performing 30 dances. However, things won't turn out the way they thought, and science-fiction elements are slowly integrated to the story.
It is a bizarre film. Very self-centered and crazy. At first, I didn't know where it was going, and felt that all the absurd of the characters and their life wasn't well treated. But when the craziest part of it rose, it became really interesting - Miranda July's metaphoric treatment of relationships, commitment and depression is impressive, touching and sad - sad in a good way, because as she said during the Q&A afterwards, sad things are sometimes worth experiencing to come back to life, and she believes that people can take it. Life isn't always fun and easy. And this tripping/ weird/ original film is a good proof of that.
Carl Spence - SIFF's Artistic Director - and Miranda July - director - for the Q&A
Miranda July - such a clever mind in such a tiny body -
Yes, I have. Have you?
MJ.
