THE INFINITE MAN
Australia, 2014, 85 minutes, Colour.
Josh Mc Conville, Hannah Marshall, Alex Demetriades.
Directed by Hugh Sullivan.
Which is which is the key question that audiences will have throughout most of this film. They might well be wondering, as well, when is when. and, especially, who is who at the very ending of the film.
The Infinite Man is a small and slight film, with a cast of only three and only two locations, an interesting example of small-budget filmmaking and have the filmmakers are able to work successfully within their budget. It is something of a romance, something of a romantic triangle, but mostly a variation on time-travel, raising issues of identity.
The location is the South Australian desert near Woomera. There is also use of a beach location. The cast of three consists of Josh Mc Conville as Dean, a romantic in love with Lana (Hannah Marshall). The third in the triangle is the caddish Terry (Alex Demetriades).
At the opening, Dean and Lana arrive to celebrate an anniversary, only to discover that the hotel out in the desert has been abandoned. Dean is a planner and had everything worked out for this anniversary – but not the arrival of Terry who disrupts the whole proceedings.
One year later, the episode is about to be re-created. But this time, Dean has been working throughout the year on a machine which will return him to the previous year and his encounter with Lana.
Well, what follows is a basic incident that Dean did not anticipate. The present Dean encounters last year’s Lana. This year’s Lana encounters last years in Dean. And Terry turns up.
And hence, the title, the various times that Dean can go back with time travel – but always with that complication that the previous incarnations of Dean will also be present. And Lana. Which is why the key question is which is which Dean, which is which Lana.
Because the film is done with the light touch, audiences may find these comings and goings rather slight and only mildly amusing. But, if they are drawn into the atmosphere of the time travel and its consequences, they may find it a pleasing entertainment.
There is happy ending with Dean and Lana, flowers and chocolates – but, we are still not sure, which is which!
1. Romance, romantic triangle, science-fiction?
2. The title, the application, so many renditions of Dean?
3. South Australian locations, the flat desert, the abandoned hotel, the beach? The rooms? The time machine? The musical score?
4. The introduction to Dean, his talking to the audience, the balcony, looking at Lana, on the rocks? The beach? The focus, his memories?
5. The anniversary, the car arriving at the location, the hotel, abandoned, the memories for the food, for the sexual encounter? The possibilities for this anniversary, the books on sexual positions?
6. Lana, as a person, arriving, a reaction to the anniversary, wearing the same dress? Her response to Dean?
7. Terry, his arrival, the breakup four years earlier, the two weeks together, his wanting to reunite with Lana, his talk at the Olympics, bringing his javelin, using the taser on Dean?
8. One year later, Dean and his work on the machine, going back, a new person, a new Lana? The comedy of the new Dean meeting the old Lana and vice versa? The different reactions?
9. The further changes of time, the new creations of Dean, of Lana, of Terry?
10. The issue of which is which Dean, which is which Lana?
11. The audience trying to keep pace with whatever time the action was in? Each Dean, each Lana?
12. Terry, the car, his wanting to take Lana, her reactions with him?
13. The phone calls, from one Dean to the other, the audience having seen the phone call previously? The interchanging, Dean getting his hand caught in
the car door?
14. The suggestions about flowers and chocolates, a Dean finally bringing them to a Lana?
15. The focus more on amusement and confusion rather than an exploration of identity and time travel?
