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MOVIE REVIEW: High Life (2019)

High Life (MA15+)

Director: Claire Denis

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, André Benjamin

Duration: 113 minutes

High Life comes from French filmmaker Clair Denis as her first English language film, and stars Robert Pattinson in yet another role that cements him as one of the most important actors of our generation. The film is almost impossible to describe effectively beyond the bare bones of its mechanics - the IMDb plot description simply reads "a father and his daughter struggle to survive in deep space where they live in isolation", and to be fair that is probably the most that you'd want to give away about High Life. It is not your typically Hollywood space adventure. It is slow, ethereal, surreal and at times frustrating. It is aggressively experimental and will no doubt leave casual viewers baffled, likely bored. By the time the plot begins to unravel in its meandering way with no regard for linear structure (perhaps something to do with black holes?), it reveals itself to be dealing directly with taboos of incest, sexuality, the human form, black holes and bodily fluids. It does not spoon feed, it does not flinch in the face of graphic violence or sexuality, and it does not baulk on approach to some heady science fiction ideas. One potential issue with the film is the way that it will often take its time moving the narrative forward, instead deciding to revel in the atmosphere that it so expertly crafts. It can sometimes drag, but I never found it to be an issue when there is so much to marvel about its technical aspects. Probably my favourite science fiction film of the year, High Life is a film of great ambition and unflinching candour that is incredibly memorable. Just don't go in expecting a thrill-a-minute sci-fi adventure, because you will be sorely disappointed.

Rating: A

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