PERFECT SENSE


UK, 2011, 92 minutes, Colour.
Ewan Mc Gregor, Eva Green, Stephen Dillane, Connie Nielson, Ewan Bremner.
Directed by David Mackenzie.

Perfect Sense is a science-fiction film, with the touch of the apocalyptic, but much more modest in its storytelling and scope than an American counterpart.

That this is a film by David Mackenzie, noted for such films as, Young Adam, Hallam Foe, Asylum, Starred Up, and set in his native Scotland with native Scottish actor in the central role, Ewan Mc Gregor. He plays a chef in the middle of something of a plague which cannot be explained. Eva Green plays a scientist who is on a team trying to explore what is happening and why.

The initial feature is a loss of the sense of smell, with mood aggravation is following. While it is happening all around the world, the film’s focus is on Scotland.

The scientists and the chef fall in love, develop a relationship despite the chef’s experiences and the scientist still trying to investigate. And, according to the title, in the relationship, in their love, they are trying to work out anything that makes perfect sense in such a situation.



1. The director and his career? Telling Scottish stories? Glasgow settings? Intense dramas?

2. The city, its surroundings, the streets, the water, views, the laboratories, restaurant, kitchen, flats, people and work their experience?

3. An end of the world film? A different kind of apocalyptic? The effect on people? The cause, people interacting with nature?

4. The plausibility of this scenario, the virus and its spread, manifestations, effect, the loss of control, emotions, the senses?

5. The title, relationship to the senses? The experience and making sense of it?

6. The introduction to Michael, as a man, his experience, relationships, not effective, leaving his girlfriend? His work as a cook, his talent? The restaurant? His friend, cheerfulness and support, the boss, interactions with the staff?

7. The ordinary world, the bizarre behavior and change, the world under threat?

8. The sense of smell? It’s beginning to fail, the way this was shown, visually? tears, emotions, behavior, loss of control, panic? The scientists and their research, the detail, people returning to normal, despite losing their sense of smell, doing ordinary work and business, meals?

9. The introduction to Susan, as a person, her work, her skills? Collaborating with Stephen, their experiments, the conclusions?

10. The sense of taste, people losing it, the impact of food, restaurants, management? The staff and the jobs?

11. Michael and Susan, their encountering each other by chance, the friendship, sharing, the situation, moving in, trying to cope?

12. The details of her of the research, the effect, Stephen and his losing control, weekend, working with Susan?

13. Susan’s sister, her children, the support? Mellowing Susan, but her difficulties in action?

14. Michael, his excessive tantrum, losing his sense? Susan’s harsh reaction, leaving?

15. The sense of hearing going, people dealing with it, the soundtrack and sounds, the bells, the absence of sound? The effect on people?

16. City government, trying control, going to the kitchen, organizing food to be delivered to those in need? Signs outside the houses? Writing notes for those who had lost their hearing? The delivery of food? Michael and his becoming a victim?

17. Michael and Susan encountering each other again, reuniting despite the difficulties?

18. Her voiceover, the comment on what was happening, the emotional effect?

19. The loss of sight, the darkness? People able to help or not? Hope or not?