Autumn Lights (2016)

The Age of Commercialism

Such a frustrating disappointment

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

There is no story development. It's about neurotic narcisistic people in a remote place on the planet earth. That alone would drive anyone crazy. This was a terrible contribution to the movie industry. Categorized as a Mystery, but, there is absolutely no Mystery at all. The story was cliche and predictable. Acting was incredibly terrible.

Angad Aulakh is a first time director who seems to defy most analysis. Now, I wouldn't recommend Autumn Lights unconditionally to my friends; not because it's a bad film (quite the opposite, it's a brilliant examination of the human condition) but because it's the kind of movie that would inevitably lead some of them to think "she told me to watch it and said it was great!" This is a film that will resonate very deeply with some and not as much with others.For starters, Autumn Lights is an art-house film under the guise of a mystery-drama. So the pacing will inevitably be slower. But if you can see past that, put your iPhone down, and forget your Facebook & Twitter, this film may enlighten you more than you would've ever expected. And, it may teach you something about cinema as Angad Aulakh appears to be a master regurgitator of old films, akin to Nicholas Winding Refn, Quentin Tarantino, etc.The narrative is straightforward. Man gets stroke of bad luck, meets intriguing woman, discovers woman is more than meets the eye, man gets entangled with woman and her puppets (and their strings). While the plot points are familiar, the writing and the revelation of this cast (led by young actors Guy Kent and Marta Gastini) is what takes this film to heights not foreseen.To begin, the writing is rather strong. At times, the dialogue feels like a play adapted for film. It feels punctuated, heightened, full of emotions and talk of events of the past. That is not easy to do and Aulakh's script is skillfully crafted. The characters dance across conversations of old loves, confusion and their misery, all but to discover that the answer will not lie in those around us, but rather, it can only be found within ourselves.Punctuated by a great score by two Icelandic composers Hugi Gudmundsson and Hjortur Ingvi Johannsson, Autumn Lights is a visual feast of an indie cinema. This is a gorgeous-looking film of washed-out, epic landscapes, muted tones, and set in beautiful Icelandic and Parisian locations, with a cast to match.Guy Kent is full of gravitas perfection in the lead role of David. As a young actor in an ensemble of a more veteran cast, he wisely underplays the drama of his character, which otherwise would easily fall into cantankerous melodrama. It is that smart choice which enhances the film tremendously. At moments charming, at moments cold, and at moments as mercurial as the character of Marie, he shows colors in particular shades that make this film what it is.Marta Gastini is also exceptional in the role of Marie. While her character doesn't undergo a transformation, she's a highly conflicted human being who makes choices to alleviate her own personal suffering. And her performance shows all the layers to Marie's pain, suffering, and sorrow. It's exquisite work.Autumn Lights is the product of a talented director's feature debut with a clearly personal and distinctive visual and narrative style. I look forward to see what is next to come from him. If you are at all interested in cinema beyond regular multiplex fare, it's definitely worth investing 2 hours of your time.

As a first review and as a fan of small, foreign films, I happened to stumble upon this title when it was being advertised as playing in Los Angeles & New York. But to my surprise, the title was available on VOD and after watching the intriguing trailer, I gave it a whirl with my husband. I was very moved by this movie. It was unexpected. And I unexpectedly am now writing a review.To start, the craftsmanship is superb. The music, the cinematography, the strong performances and the direction were not formulaic and expected. It's a film of bold choices and it felt very original. I applaud the director and writer of the film Angad Aulakh for creating something so different... Massive superhero fatigue in this household.Now the story... it's a small story. It's conversation-driven. It's not about A to B to C, it's about learning who these intricate characters are and it's a dance between them and how their interactions with one another reward (or the opposite) their lives. My husband and I were engrossed by the heart and soul of these characters. They were wise, astute, interesting people who carry immense pain with them. This is not some hot-button, socially-relevant film but why does every film need to be that nowadays? It was lovely to watch a movie about characters who feel very real and lived in and didn't have to be politically or socially charged.Now Iceland, if you've ever been like I have, you'll know the spectacular beauty. The cinematography just enhances it. But I love that it's not a travelogue film that uses Iceland as a tourist film would. It's just a setting. And it's cold and barren and is an interesting location to set these characters in.Ms. Gastini, who was beautiful in Borgia, is splendid as Marie. She's complex and highly-watchable. I was very moved by her character's storyline and emotional dilemmas, as she delves in with the film's David, played by the handsome young actor Guy Kent. He, too, is beautiful and touching in the role. There's subtly to his emotions, his melancholy, his lust, and he feels like a real man from a different generation. As they say in the film, "there's more to him than he lets on, and I find that attractive." Well, so do I. The character of David is interesting and unexpected and was filled by an actor who I enjoyed watching and entering into this world with.My husband and I discussed the film at length afterward. If you like films that provoke conversation, make you look at your own life and your choices, and inspires you by the artistry, this is a film for you. It's a wonderful movie. I highly, highly recommend this title.

Autumn Lights is a drama about the main character, David, who is on a work-related vacation in Iceland. The movie focuses on his interactions with the people who live near his vacation house. Since it is a remote location in Iceland, he frequently meets up with a couple, Johann and Marie.The Good:A lot of the conversations that were had in this movie will be very relevant to most people and it gives the viewer some food for thought when they leave the theater. The actors were able to communicate their characters' thoughts and feelings about a situation with just a look on their face. This allows for quiet moments of tension that enhance the tone of the movie.The Bad:The overarching plot is a paint-by-numbers of many movies that came before it which led this one to be predictable.The actors all give subdued performances. Most, if not all, of the dialogue has a monotone delivery which removes some of the emotional punch that could have been present. The director attended the screening I was at and he said he wanted the actors to give quiet performances because it adds to the mystery and depth of each character. This would have been a plus if it was applied to maybe just one character and not all of them.Overall, if you like movies that are more focused on the conversations that the characters have than the actual plot, you will most likely find some enjoyment from this one. If you don't like slow-paced dramas, I would stay away from this one because it's nothing you haven't seen before.