- Release year: 2024
- Director: Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.
- Producers: Amelia del Mar Hernández and Fernando Santos Diaz.
- Screenplay by: Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.
- Cinematography by: Jeremy García and Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.
- Music by: Cem Misirlioglu.
Synopsis: a woman tries to come to terms with a recent breakup.
Shotgun Commentary: the audiovisual equivalent of a mushroom trip right after a breakup.
Review
Olivia & The Clouds is the story of a breakup, or, more accurately, the aftermath of a breakup. This theme has been talked about endlessly in cinema. Nevertheless, this film has found yet a new way to share the experience. Through a lovely combination of animation techniques and live action, we follow the protagonist’s relationship and breakup, often portrayed through metaphors rather than sticking to reality.
An open story
The feature is fascinating from the get-go. A sequence of abstract content connecting the earth and the protagonist, setting the mood and pace of the piece. The narrative seems to ground itself a bit right after, using simple but engaging animations to show the context of the breakup and the moment of the separation itself. However, the content soon becomes more and more experimental, getting to even utilise mere colours or abstract shapes to tell bits of the story and evoke the feelings and mindset in which Olivia (Olga Valdez) finds herself.
The events take place in different planes of reality, encouraging you to interpret each stage at your will. One of the most unexpected moments involves a man dating a plant. This seemingly silly moment is actually incredibly telling of their relationship.
While there are other possible explanations, the most straightforward one is that she is a stay-at-home girlfriend. Her boyfriend sees her as little more than a houseplant, good as decoration and to keep him company, but little else. This situation ends in a deeply satisfying moment in which she figures out how to be independent again, a moment that is both intense and hilarious at the same time.
Critique and beauty
The scene where the man kisses her in the street is also quite significant. It is a big, great flag that she chooses to ignore until the very last minute. The assault already hints at the fact that he takes what he wants without asking, a part of his personality that often rears its ugly head again, like when he accuses her of being selfish. Like most self-absorbed people, he doesn’t even see the irony of his accusation. Still, the most appealing bit of this is how, despite everything, she is still hurt. The hardship of finding the strength to leave someone you are willing to forgive endlessly is very well depicted in the many random situations Olivia goes through during the film.
The sheer amount of metaphors and Fantasia-looking (1940) abstract sequences with colours and textures make this movie stand out. Not to mention the collage-like storytelling, the perfect resource to keep the attention of the audience, even the most distractable ones. The music, of course, also plays a great part in creating a fantastic atmosphere that envelops you and pulls you into the feature.
All in all, Olivia & The Clouds is a film that prompts you to use your imagination to fill in the gaps, showcasing situations just abstract enough to give you some space for interpretation. The aesthetics are absolutely beautiful and the text simple enough to let you focus on everything else, thus creating your own reading of the story.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Don’t go after people who don’t respect you.
- Sometimes it’s okay to not move on completely.
- Never let a partner define who you are.
What’s your take? Have you watched Olivia & The Clouds? 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! 😀