UPSIDE DOWN

Canada/France, 2012, 19 minutes, Colour.

Jim Sturgess, Kirsten Dunst, Timothy Spall, Blu Mankuma, Nicholas Rose, James Kidnie, Kate Trotter.

Directed by Juan Solanas.

Upside down is seen quite literally in this science fiction, science fantasy.

The film was written and directed by Argentinian Juan Solinas. He has imagined a different universe, twin worlds, different gravities, an upper world which looks down on a lower world, with those in the lower world appearing upside down.

A great deal of imagination has gone into the production design, the creation of the different worlds, and, especially, so many vistas of the vastness of this universe.

Life in the lower world is harsh, the story focusing on an orphan, Adam, cared for by his aunt Becky afterlife in an orphanage. There are very few prospects in the lower world. However, young Adam wanders the forests and encounters a girl from the upper world, despite the different gravities, they communicate, and a childlike love.

10 years pass. The audience knows that the girl, Eden (Kirsten Dunst) has suffered an accident and has lost her memory. She works for the huge company Transworld. In the lower world, Adam (Jim Sturgess) is experimenting with lotions with healing powers. He aspires to go to the Transworld division in the lower world, an interview, acceptance, a desk, his experiments, and friendship with his counterpart in the upper world, played by Timothy Spall.

Adam’s aim is to visit the upper world and he creates technology whereby he can defy his lower gravity. His aim, of course, is to find Eden, dismayed at her amnesia, returning to the upper world, a dinner with her, her being apprehensive, then while he is demonstrating his lotion to the authorities, she enters, asks a question and he has to tell the truth.

In the meantime, his friend and counterpart is sacked by the company – but goes to his own laboratory creating a way of combining the two gravities – and then visiting the lower world and helping Adam.

While Eden recovers her memory through her dreams, and the two meet each other, renewing the love, they are pursued by the authorities, Adam falling to his lower world thinking he will never see Eden again. But, with the help of his friend, and despite the authorities, the two are able to meet each other again.

A parable about segregated worlds, capitalistic domination, scientific advances, and a Romeo and Juliet style story.

1. The title? The twin worlds? The two gravities? A romance between the worlds?
2. The film as an allegory, of separation, segregation, capitalistic power and oppression? Science, technology, the search for solutions?
3. The visuals of each world, the special effects, the space vistas, each world, the lower world in its darkness, the upper world and its seeming normality? The musical score?
4. The credibility of this world, the explanations given, the issues of gravity, of overcoming gravity?
5. Adam and Eden when young, Adam and the lower world, the orphan, and Becky, his growing up, deprivation, work, friendship with Albert? Life, wandering, looking at the upper world, the encounter with Eden, their meetings, the gravities, friendship, love? The 10 years passing?
6. Adam, his work, the authorities, suspicions, taking away Aunt Becky – and her support for Adam? His skills, scientific work on the cream, the approach to the upper world, interviews, acceptance, his desk, his lab work? The encounter with Bob? Bob in the upper world? Their friendship, conversations, getting the stamps for Bob’s collection, Bob getting a message to Eden? Adam and his ambitions to defy gravity and go to the upper world?
7. Albert, acceptance of the lower world, his work, Pablo, his criticisms of Adam? Adam’s plea to Albert? Their help?
8. Adam, the devices for changing the gravity, his going to the upper world, searching for Eden, the audience having seen on television, knowing that she had amnesia? Adam finding her, her response, the amnesia explanation? The danger for the gravity devices heating, his having to leave? Wanting to return, communication with Eden, her fears, his reassurance, coming on too strongly, the meal together, bonding, his having to leave again?
9. Adam and his inventions, the lotions, the demonstration, the transformation of the woman’s face, even coming to the demonstration, asking the question, Adam telling the truth? Her departure?
10. Adam and his deception, the lotions missing the main ingredient, the authorities, the demonstration, suspicion of Adam?
11. The dismissals, Bob and his being dismissed, the farewell to Adam, his work in his laboratory, finding the balance between the two gravities? Inviting Adam? Bob later coming down to the lower world, his demonstration?
12. Eden, her dreams, gradual realisation of the truth? The two coming together? The authorities and the pursuit? The dangers, the gravity, flying through the space, Adam’s fall?
13. His later return, the couple together, love overcoming everything?
14. A fanciful variation on a Romeo and Juliet tale?