SXSW FILM FESTIVAL 2022 REPORT 5: THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, STAYY & RADICAL HONESTY

This is the end, my only friend, the end. Well, at least for this year’s SXSW! In the final rundown of my festival experience, I review an episodic series and two short films. It’s been a ride; thanks as always for reading!

The Man Who Fell to Earth (Alex Kurtzmann, Jenny Lumet)

Outlandish, fun, charming, intriguing, transcending; these are just some of the words that could apply to the first two episodes of this new Showtime series. While I’m excited to see what occurs next, I’m hoping it keeps the momentum that it’s riding, because I enjoyed these initial entries quite a lot.

In Episode One, we get a wraparound bookend of Chiwetel Ejiofor‘s character telling his story. He’s a tech mogul, engaging a crowd, but then we see his origin. It turns out that he’s an alien, and his story is a lot to take in. In the first episode, we only get so much of his past, and his portrayal is confused, displaced, and exaggerated (as anyone would be when brought to a new planet and shifted into a new form). It is quite amusing to watch. It’s a little silly, he’s first brought in by police naked, with a water hose far down his throat (he’s awful thirsty). Yes, that may seem bizarre, that’s intentionally so. He’s just learning the language, the customs, and knows that he has a mission even if he can’t completely describe yet what that is. Ejiofor is an actor who never seems to let me down, and here, as he begins to assimilate, with animated expressions, meeting with Justin Falls (Naomie Harris), and trying to traverse this confusing world, is nothing short of entrancing.

Justin Falls is thrust into a situation that’s equally confusing, because she’s just trying to keep her life afloat, supporting her ailing father and young daughter. When this “man” enters her life spouting of missions, and of her previous work on fusion power, she doesn’t know what to believe. The two have captivating chemistry because both seem to be doing something they never expected, and their fates are so closely tied. Also, we seem to learn as the characters do, and this is just the beginning. By the end of episode 2, we are starting to get somewhere, and by then,  Justin has seen more than she could have ever imagined, knowing that this is someone and something both otherworldly and incredibly important.

With terrific direction and writing, this show has a lot of promise and works as a sort of sequel to the original film adaptation. The effects are terrific, and the casting is perfect (including all of the strong supporting turns). The Man Who Fell to Earth has the potential to be a rather gripping, inventive sci-fi series, and I can’t wait to see where this goes next.

Stayy (Aqsa Altaf, John X. Carey)

This beauteous science fiction short takes on the idea of solar flares, superstition, and being in the right moment at the right time, (or is it the wrong?) Perhaps it is up to the perspective of the viewer; either way, I wanted more! I am hoping this is one of those shorts that makes its way to an inspired feature.

Annelise Cepero is a waitress done with her small-town life and ready to hit the big city with cohort (romantic interest?) Denny Love. They meet at a laundromat and then a bar until their inevitable flight to NYC. It’s the night of the aurora borealis, and when her apartment in NY falls through, she decides to wait on her flight. Upset, but not willing to stop his plans, he still leaves. What happens next is a catastrophic event that leaves her mind and sense of time reeling. In this short but engaging event, with terrific uses of color, and quick character work, we see her go back (and forward?) in time. But, what then?

I quite enjoyed this minuscule delight and look forward to seeing what Aqsa Altaf and John X. Carey do next. Intriguing things, I am sure!

Radical Honesty (Bianca Poletti)

This short asks the question: can someone gauge a problematic encounter in 7 brief minutes? The answer: yep!

The entry music and title cards feel reminiscent of Tarantino. What follows is our meet with the intimate first date, and we follow the waitress, with terrific musical choices in the background, as the camera makes its way to our couple on display. The writing by Allison Goldfarb is apt, even in its shortened timeframe. Rachel (Allison Goldfarb) and Jack (John Hein) are on a first date, and at first, it seems dreamy. But, give it time.

The radical honesty comes from one admitting to being in an open relationship. Once discussed, they call their partner for approval, and the scene becomes discomforting. Based on the offput reaction of the other party, as they listen to the conversation, each moment unravels anything between them. It’s a live date gone wrong in a fast, viable fashion. Bianca Poletti gives us insight into the difficult-to-manage terrain of the dating world. It’s rushed, but it’s also concrete. Bye Buddy! In the end, it is comical, to the point, and yet realistic. There’s enough nuance here, even with the briskness, that I believed this uncomfortable first date as if it were my own.

This ends my SXSW 2022 coverage! Thank you all for your continued support, for so many talented individuals I had the luxury of supporting, and for an incredible and insightful festival journey. Until next time!