OTHERLIFE

Australia, 2017, 96 minutes, Colour.
Jessica de Gouw, T.J. Power, Thomas Coquerel, Clarence Ryan, Tiriel Mora, Liam Graham.
Directed by Ben C.Lucas.

OtherLife is an interesting science fiction feature which someone described as a speculation fiction.

This is an Australian film, written and directed by Ben C. Lucas (some short films and Wasted on the Young). It was filmed in Western Australia.

The title refers to a process based on chemical stimulation of the brain, a belief that whatever happens in the chemical reactions of the brain can be induced by drugs, reality and imagination being equal. At one point, the inventor of Otherlife, Ren (Jessica to go) participates in a review with authorities about the ethics of the process and procedure.

Ren is intense, experiments with Otherlife with her brother, an experience of diving that goes wrong leaving the brother in a coma. She is determined to revive him. In the meantime, there is a countdown to Otherlife becoming public and in wide use. She is assisted by Byron in the laboratories (Clarence Ryan) and pressurised by the PR and business promotion of her partner, Sam (T. J. Power). She is also involved with Daniel (Thomas Coquerel).

There is tension in the drama when an experiment with Daniel goes wrong and is seen to have died. Ren is accused, talk of charges being brought, prison authorities (who had become interested in Otherlife and its use for imprisonment and rehabilitation) suggesting that Ren do 365 days of internment. Again, this is through the processes of Otherlife.

There is more tension when Ren escapes, links up with Daniel, who is not dead, a friend, get support from her father (Tiriel Mora) and goes into confrontation with Sam, including his 365 days of internment.

Audiences interested in science fiction make all kind of connections with twilight zone backgrounds, episodes of Black Mask… But, in its own way, Otherlife is interesting and provocative.

1. Title? For a science-fiction exploration? Real life? Imagined life? Issues of science in chemical realities?

2. The West Australian setting, the city, the views? The laboratories, the companies and offices? The settings for imagined life – diving, skiing, internment? Hospitals? The musical score?

3. Ren, the introduction, diving with her brother, his death? Hospital and her grief? The appeal to her science father? Her work, the creation of Otherlife? Her working with Sam? Byron as her assistant?

4. The theory of other life, chemical similarities for stimulating the brain for real life and imagination? Ethical issues? The scene of the interrogating of Ren concerning moral issues? The scientific interest? The experiments? The visuals for the serum and the effect on the eye, moving into the imagined world? The deadline for its public use? The meeting in the explanations? The prison authorities and their interest?

5. Ren, her relationship with Danny? His role in the company? The sexual encounters? Her imagining the skiing? His ski experience? The experimental dose, its effect on him, death?

6. The confrontation with Ren? Sam, the role of Byron, the other members working on Otherlife? The prison authorities? Charges against Ren, dropping them? Her being confined for 365 days?

7. In the confinement, the visuals, the box, the tuna, the milk, her beginning to write, to speculate about what it happened? Passing? The culmination? The return to the first day? Her reaction, exploration, getting out, the escape, the security guard, his clothes in the car, the clothes from the shop? Her wandering, phone calls?

8. Her friend, coming to her rescue? Finding Danny and that he was not dead?

9. Otherlife and its prosperity, customers? Meeting Sam, the whole contrivance of her internment? No charges? Byron and his collaboration?

10. Ren, wanting to revive her brother, going to her house, with Danny, her father arriving, the reconciliation? Going to the hospital, the drops, wanting her brother to have a choice, reliving the diving, his sitting on the shore and looking at her? His appeal? The turning off the machine?

11. The reversal of roles with Sam, his being confined in the internment box? His experience, let out?

12. Ren, her not wanting the company, – but her curiosity and becoming involved again? Her future?

13. The plausibility of the speculations about other life?