- Release year: 2024
- Director: Asif Kapadia.
- Producers: George Chignell and Asif Kapadia.
- Screenplay by: Asif Kapadia and Tony Grisoni.
- Cinematography by: Bradford Young.
Synopsis: combination of documentary and fiction that warns about a very likely future for humanity.
Shotgun Commentary: incredibly depressing, anxiety-inducing, and low-key terrifying in its accuracy.
Review
2073 is a really depressing drama about a dystopian future in which freedom is long gone. The twist is, the situation presented is simply based on historic facts that have already taken place. Thus, it could be thought of as more of a very likely possibility rather than a complete fiction. If you are in the mood to live the rest of your day in anger and frustration, do give it a watch!
We begin 2025 with a stark reminder of the paths walked and the dangerous road ahead. A reality check in between the clouds of Christmas sugar, if you will. Are you feeling a bit hangover from the holiday season? This might not be the best content for you right now. Unless you want to begin the year with anxiety, that is. If so, knock yourself out.
A small step for a man…
Depressing theme aside, the feature is interesting in principle. The story is presented as a dystopic future in which people starve and hide in fear, while the 1% presumably live a life of luxury in buildings that look suspiciously like the one in High-Rise (2015).
Saying words like “democracy” or reading certain books are essentially death sentences, and technology is used to instil fear and punish anyone who’s considered to be out of line or a threat to the totalitarian system established. Knowledge is dangerous, and free-thinking can get you killed. Another Wednesday in tons of countries, really.
Just in case you still didn’t see the connections between that fictional future and today’s world climate, they make sure to mention that the Trumps are still in power before diving into all the shady and illegal movements of the one-percenters and how those actions and the People’s passiveness will unavoidably lead us to the situation that was first presented.
Good morning!
With statements like “They are promising to protect you from a fear, an enemy, that doesn’t exist”, and the exposition of how people in power are weaponising social media and other media outlets, the mass’ stupidity is made crystal clear. This manipulation is specially relevant right now if one looks at the US. Surreal electoral race and mind-blowing results aside, one needn’t go further than the Luigi Mangione incident to see that most outlets, and even some individuals, try to make all problems political to hide the real culprit: class inequality. As long as people keep looking at each other and not up, the world will remain the one-percenters’ playground, and everyone else, a puppet.
This film, like many other outlets, tries to wake people up from the slumber. However, the form might not be the best. For a feature trying to open your eyes, it’s got an annoyingly slow pace. So much so that you might find yourself trying to keep your eyes open and failing. Ironically, the moments where the past and present is presented, sequences that are packed with information, are showcased at lighting speed. This uneven display of facts and fiction seems almost tailored to be a hard watch, like you have to earn their theory.
Dora says goodbye
The final cherry on top of the tedious but curious movie is the ending. One of the cameras meant to interrogate suspicious people breaks the fourth wall in a sort of evil-Dora-the-Explorer way. This moment would be quite intense and powerful were it not for its glacial pace and overextended welcome.
All in all, 2073 is a fascinating watch with the potential to open some eyes that sabotages itself with its astonishingly dreadful editing. It is worth the watch if you want a reminder of why the human race should be extinct, or if you are looking for a new source of rage or anxiety.
Thanks to Universal for big-screen access! 2073 is out in cinemas now in UK.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Don’t believe everything you see on the news.
- Thinking is free, use that privilege.
- Social problems aren’t political, they shouldn’t be treated as such. Politicians have no business legislating women’s bodies, children’s libraries, nor social platforms.
What’s your take? Have you watched 2073? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀