El argumento va de la siguiente manera: Nos situamos en un futuro distópico, aquí el nivel del mar ha subido y anega la ciudad de Miami, por tanto, las barcazas son el principal medio de transporte. La vida se ha vuelto nocturna, escenario ideal para que el crimen y la violencia se consoliden como dos banderas representativas y desencadenen en miseria y destrucción. Dentro de este contexto, Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) y su compañera Emily Sanders (Thandiwe Newton) –veteranos de guerra– regentan un negocio en donde sus clientes se sumergen en un tanque de agua para recuperar sus recuerdos. Les procuran momentos placenteros a las personas, quienes se aferran a las memorias felices del ayer.
Esta máquina –que puede explorar la memoria– es muy valiosa, a través de ella interrogan a los delincuentes y consiguen información importante para la fiscalía y así ayudan a resolver los casos. Desde la aparición de Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) todo da un vuelco, pues ella se convierte en un gran enigma, descubriremos posteriormente que su actuación está planificada porque forma parte de una organización criminal. Ella representa el centro del misterio y la obsesión de Jackman, el foco de la investigación que emprende para despejar sus incógnitas.
Would you like to relive the sensations of your memories? Nestle in the smile of the past? Live from nostalgia? Or remember where you kept something important? Those questions arose after watching the movie Reminiscence. In the first part, several science fiction titles working on the same theme came to mind: the obsession with the past, memories and dreams, for example Blade Runner, Origin, Forget about me or Memento. This film tries to nuance features of originality that are not enough to capture the attention of viewers throughout the footage. In particular, I found it attractive in the first part, but that charm soon faded due to its erratic rhythm.
The argument goes as follows: We are in a dystopian future, here the sea level has risen and floods the city of Miami, therefore, barges are the main means of transportation. Life has become nocturnal, the ideal setting for crime and violence to consolidate as two representative flags and trigger misery and destruction. Within this context, Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman) and his partner Emily Sanders (Thandiwe Newton) – war veterans – run a business where their clients submerge themselves in a tank of water to recover their memories. They provide pleasant moments for people, who cling to the happy memories of yesterday.
This machine – which can explore memory – is very valuable, through it they interrogate criminals and obtain important information for the prosecution and thus help solve cases. Since the appearance of Mae (Rebecca Ferguson) everything takes a turn, because she becomes a great enigma, we will later discover that her action is planned because she is part of a criminal organization. She represents the center of Jackman's mystery and obsession, the focus of the investigation he undertakes to clear up his unknowns.
La guionista y directora Lisa Joy (cocreadora de la serie de ciencia-ficción de HBO Westworld) consigue un tono de misterio, peligrosidad y sensualidad que enmarca el gran drama personal del protagonista. La ambientación me parece un acierto, los elementos utilizados de la realidad y del universo futurista son fascinantes a la vista. En general, el mundo donde se desarrolla la película está bien construido. Este escenario está acompañado de la fotografía bien ejecutada de Paul Cameron que resalta los contraluces y la belleza externa. En esta oportunidad, desde mi perspectiva, la banda sonora a cargo de Ramin Djawadi no calza con las escenas presentadas.
La voz en off del protagonista es un recurso que se aprovecha al máximo, sirve como un instrumento descriptivo, nos suministra información sobre lo que ha sucedido en la ciudad y sobre el funcionamiento de la misma. Las reflexiones filosóficas abundan sobre la dependencia de la memoria, en ocasiones, se vuelven incisivas y puede que te hagan pensar más de la cuenta, perdiendo así el hilo narrativo. Aunado a ello, están los múltiples diálogos, se nota que hay un gran esfuerzo en ellos, sin embargo, algunos son incongruentes.
La cinta plantea la dicotomía: vivir anclado a los recuerdos del ayer o continuar con las distintas experiencias para crear nuevos. Hay muchas personas que sienten adicción por el pasado, por momentos y personas ausentes, entonces prefieren habitar en él, apelando a los anhelos nostálgicos. Si bien es cierto que es difícil superar los traumas, puesto que las remembranzas nos irrumpen, en la película se enfocan en los instantes placenteros, si nuestra mente fuera selectiva y pudiéramos controlar esto, nos enfiláramos hacia la felicidad, pero la realidad dista mucho de esta posibilidad.
The performances save the plot a bit, so a point is given to the choice of the cast. Hugh Jackman (Logan, X-Men) is an excellent actor, he convinces with the role he plays. Also, Rebecca Ferguson makes a believable performance, although her character repeats pre-existing formulas. Another additional element is that she dazzles us with her talent as a singer, since she uses her own voice for the scenes in which it is deserved. They both convey good chemistry on screen and it feels quite natural. Likewise, I liked the interpretation of Thandiwe Newton, she is rude and sensible, although she has a secondary role, she manages efficiently.
Writer and director Lisa Joy (co-creator of the HBO science fiction series Westworld) achieves a tone of mystery, danger and sensuality that frames the great personal drama of the protagonist. The setting seems to me to be a success, the elements used from reality and from the futuristic universe are fascinating to look at. In general, the world where the film takes place is well built. This setting is accompanied by Paul Cameron's well-executed photography that highlights backlighting and external beauty. On this occasion, from my perspective, the soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi does not fit with the scenes presented.
The protagonist's voiceover is a resource that is used to the maximum, it serves as a descriptive instrument, it provides us with information about what has happened in the city and how it works. Philosophical reflections abound on the dependence on memory, sometimes they become incisive and may make you think more than necessary, thus losing the narrative thread. In addition to this, there are multiple dialogues, it shows that there is a great effort in them, however, some are incongruous.
The film raises the dichotomy: live anchored to the memories of yesterday or continue with the different experiences to create new ones. There are many people who are addicted to the past, at times and absent people, so they prefer to dwell in it, appealing to nostalgic yearnings. Although it is true that it is difficult to overcome the traumas, since the remembrances break us, in the film they focus on the pleasant moments, if our mind were selective and we could control this, we would head towards happiness, but the reality is far from This possibility.
La película juega con las mentiras y los secretos, los cuales terminan en tragedia. Es que la falsedad no puede acarrear nada favorable. El lado romántico está tapizado bajo esta red de apariencias, el mejor disfraz es el que vende, pero como dice un refrán popular: “Las mentiras tienen patas cortas”, la verdad se impondrá y se visualizará como la mejor opción para tener paz mental. Hacer lo correcto se tatúa como una premisa contundente, por lo menos en la piel de Mae. La capacidad detectivesca del protagonista es una característica capital para el desarrollo de la trama.
También podemos distinguir el trasfondo sociopolítico como analogía del mundo actual. Las estructuras sociales, la arquitectura y las costumbres han sido transformadas por los distintos acontecimientos, sobre todo, las consecuencias del cambio climático y los avances tecnológicos. Sin embargo, la sociedad reproduce la injustica y la impunidad, vicios del pasado que se tornan latentes en el estrato donde se habita. De allí que la máquina de Jackman sea vital para atrapar a los bandidos.
Reminiscencia posee un argumento que ya está manoseado, pero matiza rasgos distintivos, sobre todo, cómo se trata el misterio, aunque el potencial que se le veía al largometraje está desaprovechado; se manejan temas intrigantes que se sienten inconclusos. En ocasiones, es un tanto confusa, ya que la trama se complica innecesariamente, hay que develar el entramado que resulta forzado y con varios recovecos. El cambio de ritmo la torna un poco lenta, además posee contadas escenas de acción. La base funcional es la nostalgia y los recuerdos, lo que toca la fibra más sensible de la audiencia, no obstante, no se cristaliza de la forma esperada. En definitiva, me resultó tediosa en algunos momentos, el inicio contundente pronto se evaporó en mis manos, dejando un sabor agridulce.
The film plays with lies and secrets, which end in tragedy. It is that falsehood cannot bring anything favorable. The romantic side is upholstered under this network of appearances, the best costume is the one that sells, but as a popular saying goes: "Lies have short legs", the truth will prevail and it will be visualized as the best option to have peace of mind. Doing the right thing is tattooed as a strong premise, at least on Mae's skin. The detective capacity of the protagonist is a capital characteristic for the development of the plot.
We can also distinguish the sociopolitical background as an analogy of the current world. Social structures, architecture and customs have been transformed by various events, especially the consequences of climate change and technological advances. However, society reproduces injustice and impunity, vices of the past that become latent in the stratum where it lives. Hence, Jackman's machine is vital to catch the bandits.
Reminiscence has a plot that is already hackneyed, but it nuances distinctive features, above all, how the mystery is treated, although the potential that was seen in the feature film is wasted; Intriguing themes that feel unfinished are handled. Sometimes, it is a bit confusing, since the plot is unnecessarily complicated, you have to reveal the framework that is forced and with several twists and turns. The change of pace makes it a bit slow, it also has few action scenes. The functional basis is nostalgia and memories, which strikes the most sensitive chord in the audience, however, it does not crystallize in the expected way. In short, I found it tedious at times, the forceful start soon evaporated in my hands, leaving a bittersweet taste.
