Vivarium is a science fiction thriller filmed by Lorcan Finnegan, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The film stars two young stars, Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots. Whether by chance or not, this film again seems to offend our current situation, which forces us to spend a lot of time at home. This kind of story is no longer new, but Vivarium tried something a little different.
Once upon a time, Gemma and Tom were lovers who wanted to find a new home. They stopped by a real estate marketing office with a strange employee. Even he was willing to take them to the location of the house. When they got there, he took them inside to look around the house until he suddenly disappeared. Gemma and Tom rushed to leave the location, but strangely, they always rotated in the same place, there was no way out. They seemed trapped in limbo.
Awal kisahnya memang menarik dan mampu membuat penonton penasaran. Arti kata
Vivarium itself is a closed observation room that is conditioned according to the original habitat for animals or plants. The concept of “vivarium” itself in the medium of film is not a new thing. One perfect example is Dark City, where a race of alien creatures invades humans in a city container. Vivarium has more or less the same idea, but unfortunately, the motive and execution are too weak. The plot makes us as frustrated as Gemma and Tom. I don’t know, this is what the filmmaker wants, but I disagree. This kind of frustration must be covered by something firm and satisfying. Then what for the motive of struggling from the beginning? What’s the point? Dark City can execute very well.
Vivarium has a unique concept and premise with two stars playing well, only let down by weak final execution. If the place is likened to hell, what makes the two characters worthy of entering the place? Lack of explanation at the beginning of the story. In The Matrix, humans are trapped in digital illusions by machines, but there is a strong motive behind it. Regardless of Vivarium‘s reasons and messages, cause-effect or action-consequence, everything is blurred. Humans, I think, are worthy of hope, even if it is only a small chance.
Stay Healthy and safe!
